Month: September 2006

Thursday, September 28, 2006
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FROM MY NOTEBOOKS
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He who asks a rude question neither wants nor deserves an honest answer.
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Two frequently used phrases in English that are never used in Armenian: “Speak truth to power,” and “The buck stops here.”
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“The buck stops here,” and the blame-game are mutually exclusive concepts.
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Sometimes the hardest word to pronounce is no.
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Last night on CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] an interview with a Turkish novelist who was taken to court because in her latest book an Armenian character from San Francisco refers to Turks as “butchers.” The Turks, it seems, are so eager to achieve membership in the European Union that even a single word in a work of fiction bothers the hell out of them.
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In the same way that we are brought up to believe we are a nation of heroes and martyrs, the Turks are brought up to believe they are a nation of empire builders and noble warriors, even if most of their so-called warriors were not Turks but brainwashed and castrated Christians.
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People who give others ulcers, heart attacks, and cancer, die of natural causes.
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I repeat myself because I consider it my duty to reassert the truth against ceaselessly repeated lies.
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Bernard-Henri Levy (contemporary French philosopher): “Israeli writers are better politicians than Israeli politicians because imagination is a necessary ingredient of good politics. By using their imagination, writers are in a better position to understand what it means to be and feel like a Palestinian.”
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Friday, September 29, 2006
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HOW NOT TO BE A WRITER
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Misery likes company they say and they are right. If I encouraged anyone to adopt literature as a career, I have done so for purely selfish reasons.
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Anyone who can write a sentence these days thinks he can also write a paragraph, a page, and a chapter. Result: an unlimited supply of trash most of which will never see the light of day. According to a recent statistic, only one in a thousand manuscripts is accepted for publication. That’s because for every honest man there are probably a thousand self-assessed geniuses, in the same way that for every authentic man of faith or servant of god there are a thousand mullahs, shamans, gurus, televangelists, fornicators, and child molesters; and for every statesman there are a thousand wheeler-dealers whose number one concern is number one.
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It is said that writers are appreciated only after they die. What unmitigated nonsense! What unadulterated rubbish! I can name a hundred Armenian writers who are neither appreciated nor read even by the overwhelming majority of their fellow Armenians. As for courses in creative writing, how-to books, lectures, seminars, and symposia that have been mushrooming hiroshimally: the most practical advice you will get from them is of the kind that tells you to “stand still and wave a white handkerchief, this should confuse the elephant.”
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Did anyone in Homer’s or Dostoevsky’s time even speak of such a thing as “creative writing”? My favorite advice, or rather anti-advice is: “Are you sure you are doing the wrong thing?” Because to do the right thing nowadays means to conform by saying “Yes, sir!” even when the right thing to do is to bellow “No!”
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Saturday, September 30, 2006
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THE MEANING OF MEANING
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James Joyce once bragged that some of his puns have as many as five meanings. It is said of Saadi (13th-century Persian poet) that each word of his has as many as seventy-two meanings. Can you guess the number of meanings in an autumn leaf, a raindrop, an atom, a massacre?
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Julien Green (1900-1998): “The young and not so young today speak platitudes, write platitudes, think platitudes. From one end of the world to the other – music, painting, architecture – it’s the triumph of mediocrity.”
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“Your negativity is killing us,” a reader complains. Translation: Critics, no! Brownnosers, yes!
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The only reason I concentrate on our failings is that we are in a position to do something about them. As for the failings of the rest of the world: what’s the use of bitching?
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ARMENIA CANNOT BE SERIOUS FACTOR FOR EU ACCEPTING OR NOT ACCEPTING TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.09.2006 18:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Armenians themselves cannot be a serious
factor for EU accepting or not accepting Turkey, political science
doctor, historian Armen Ayvazyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In
his words, it is a problem of Europe, not the Armenians.

"The Armenians are lately raffled off as small change for the sake of
interests of European countries. Even the countries, whose parliaments
recognized the Armenian Genocide do not observe norms according to
the laws adopted. E.g. France, which recognized the Genocide in
a special law. No conclusions are made out of it to apply to the
current situation, the government, which committed the Genocide,
is not indicated. Even largest information agency as Agence France
Presse never utilizes the word "genocide". They write "massacre and
slaughter," the Armenian political scientist remarked.

"Turkey even today pursues a hostile policy regarding Armenia:
the blockade, full support to Azerbaijan in all fields." Ayvazyan
is convinced that one should leave euphoria from recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by various countries. "I believe that one should
deal with this issue more seriously and in a more balanced manner. The
resources and actions of Armenia and the Armenians should be aimed,
first of all, at improvement of the geopolitical situation of Armenia,
rather than participation in the European games with Turkey at our
expense", he said.

CHIRAC: I STRESSED NEED TO OPEN ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER MANY TIMES

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 13:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I believe that the prospect of EU accession
is an important element for keeping Turkey on a way, linking that
country with the West, which Turkey chose itself," French President
Jacques Chirac stated in an interview to the Hayastani Hanrapetutyun
(Republic of Armenia) newspaper. In his words, the accession to EU
itself provides for necessary reforms.

"This is a long way. I am sure that seeing Turkey declined towards
European values, human rights, peace, democracy in interests of both
EU and Armenia," the French President said. He emphasized that he
had urged Turkey to open the border with Armenia many times.

"However, evidently the issue is closely related with solution of the
Karabakh conflict and progress in the Karabakh settlement may have huge
importance for solving that issue. I believe it is possible today,"
Chirac said. As of the Armenian Genocide the French leader said that
European values provides for working for reconciliation, peace and
respect. "I believe in Turkey’s ability to pay historical tribute,
as the spirit of Europe lies in that," Chirac underscored.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY READY TO GUARANTEE OF KARABAKH PEACE ACCORD

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 13:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Many times in Paris, Key West, Rambouillet I saw
the closeness of attaining peace over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and today OSCE MG proposals seem fair, weighed and reasonable. I told
this to Armenian and Azeri Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev," French
President Jacques Chirac stated in an interview to the Hayastani
Hanrapetutyun (Republic of Armenia) newspaper. "I would like to see
Yerevan and Baku displaying courage for attaining peace," he added. "I
was involved in the solution of the Karabakh issue myself, as I am
aware with the suffering caused by the conflict and as peace is the
only way to build a democratic and prospering future," Chirac said. In
his words, economic dynamism, geostrategic location of Armenia will
be fully useful only provided that borders are open and relations
are settled with neighbors. "Today G8 countries and the international
community are ready to become guarantees of a peace accord over the
Karabakh issue. This apt moment should not be missed," the French
President added.

ARMENIAN NATION SHOULD NOT FEAR TAKING THE ROAD OF FUTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 14:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "France is ready to assist Armenia in political
modernization," French President Jacques Chirac stated in an interview
to the Hayastani Hanrapetutyun (Republic of Armenia) newspaper. In his
words, an old nation like Armenian should not fear of taking the road
of the future. At that he remarked that between the Armenian and French
people there is a certain internal commonness. Chirac underscored
similar preferences of the two peoples, specifically independence,
spiritual wisdom in art and culture, beauty of the languages and their
being sacral," Chirac underscored, adding some half a million French
of Armenian origin "conveyed their courage, talent and magnanimity
to France." The French President underscored they preserved ties
with their historical fatherland and promote strengthening relations
between the two peoples. Addressing the Armenian youth, Chirac said,
"Belonging to such an old people, simultaneously having an opportunity
to build a new country is happiness." "Armenia deserves its people
being devoted to it," Chirac stressed.

INDEPENDENCE DAY OF ARMENIA MARKED IN STAVROPOL REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 14:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 24 within the Year of Armenia in
Russia a holiday concert, marking the Independence Day of Armenia,
was organized in the yard of St. Sargis church of Pyatigorsk. As
reported by the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia, the
event was organized by Round Table Coordination Council of Armenian
communities and Pyatigorsk Armenian National-Cultural Autonomy. Members
of Armenian communities of Kislovodsk, Budyonnovsk, Zelenokumsk,
Edissia village and stanitsa Suvorovskaya took part in the event as
well. St. Sargis church pastor Ter Khachatur opened the event with
prayer and congratulated those gathered on the holiday. Chair of
Pyatigorsk Armenian National-Cultural Autonomy David Lazaryan and
Round Table and Urartu Armenian community Chairman Mikhail Manvelov
addressed participants of the event. Folklore amateur performance
groups of Stavropol Region were in the concert program of the holiday.

FRENCH PRESIDENT ARRIVING IN ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 29 ON STATE VISIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 14:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 29 – October 1 French President Jacques
Chirac will pay a state visit to Armenia on an invitation of Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, reports the Press Office of the Armenian
leader. The official welcoming ceremony will take place at Zvartnots
international airports September 29. Then Kocharian and Chirac will
meet in the Armenian President’s residence. The French leader will
visit Tsitsernakaberd complex, will lay a wreath to Memorial of the
Armenian Genocide Victims, will visit the Genocide Museum within the
framework of his visit.

Chirac is also scheduled to meet with Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II and will visit the French Embassy in Yerevan. The Square
of France in the center of the Armenian capital will be opened with
participation of the two presidents. Besides, they will be present
at Aznavour and Friends concert, which will open the Year of Armenia
in France, titled "Armenia my friend."

BAKU CONSIDERS COMPARISON OF KARABAKH ISSUE WITH KOSOVO FUTURE MODEL "GROUNDLESS"

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri Deputy FM, Special Representative of Azeri
President on NK Araz Azimov considers linking the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement with the future model of self-determination of Kosovo
population "groundless." "Observing and respect of territorial
integrity as a principle remains in effect. In any case, even if
there is a precedent, the principle remains a dominant one. Finally,
Armenia should know that territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be
secured," the Azeri Deputy FM said.

"Russian President Putin is also known for his sympathy towards using
the Kosovo future status as a precedent for solving other ethnic
conflicts, including those in post-soviet space," Day.az writes.

EREBUNI MILITARY AIRDROME CONVEYED TO RUSSIAN AIR BASE LOCATED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 25-28 the sixth session of the
inter-departmental Armenian-Russian Commission on 102nd Russian
military base (RMB) located in Gyumri was held in Yerevan. Protocol
on conveying and usage of land lots of the 102nd RMB was signed by
the end of the meeting. Specifically, protocol N5 on introducing
changes to the Treaty on the Russian Military Base from March 16,
1995. The new supplement provides for allocation of lands for building
a kindergarten for families of Russian military, as well as providing
accommodation to them.

According to the protocol signed, Erebuni military airdrome is conveyed
to the RMB. Russian fighters will be located at the airdrome.

As Head of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, colonel
general Mikayel Harutyunyan stated at a news conference in Yerevan,
Armenian-Russian military cooperation is developing successfully. "We
are going to open a new school as well," he said.

RUSSIA GOING TO RELEASE MILITARY DETAINED IN GEORGIA AT ANY PRICE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 14:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated Thursday that Russia
is going to attain release of the military detained in Georgia by
all means available.

"We demanded immediate release of our citizens and we will work firmly
to attain it by all means available," he said. In his words, "there
is cause for the UN Security Council to engage in that issue." Lavrov
was concerned over the incident in Georgia and called it "recurrent
provocation and demonstration of anti-Russian policy."

We remind that Russian military and Georgian citizens suspected of
espionage were detained in Tbilisi, Batumi and other towns of the
country on Wednesday.

According to the data of the Georgian Interior Ministry, another
Russian citizen, allegedly accomplice of intelligence activities, is
hiding in the building of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia
(GRTT). The building was encircled and Georgian Defense Minister Irakly
Okurashvili promised to continue the siege, until K. Pichugin is given
away to the Georgian party. Georgian law enforcers cannot get to the
GRTT territory, as it has diplomatic immunity, reports RIA Novosti.