Month: November 2006

JAVAKHK ARMENIANS’ RALLY PASSES IN PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES’ PROVOCATIONS, UNITED JAVAKHK REPORTS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
NINOTSMINDA, NOVEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The rally of
Javakhk Armenians at Bavra checkpoint passed in a “civilized, peaceful
and organized” atmosphere. This was mentioned in the statement spread
by the United Javakhk Democratic Bloc. We should remind that the
rally was organized on November 20 in protection of member of Bloc
presidency, Vahagn Chakhalian and with the demand of legislative
stipulation of passport and customs simplified order of crossing RA
state frontier.
According to the A-Info agency, the same day a special armed detachment
of Georgian internal troops consisting of 150 persons was brought
into Javakhk.
“Employees of regional police and national security departments of
Akhalkalak and Bogdanovka made an attempt to hamper the action of
protest at Bavra check-point by instigating provocations towards
demonstrators. But against the pressure exerted by Georgian power
structures, the rally passed in an organized and peaceful atmosphere,”
the United Javakhk’s statement read.

JAVAKHK BUSINESSMEN “DONATE” HOTEL ABASTUMAN HEALTH RESORT TO STATE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
AKHALKALAK, NOVEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Hotel
Abastuman health resort was returned to the state in the settlement
of Samtskhe-Javakhk, the A-Info agency reports.
Several years ago the health resort was privatized by Georgian
businessmen Anton Merabishvili and Genady Yendeladze residing in
Russia. According to official information, the above mentioned
businessmen “donated” the health resort to the state of their own
accord. But, according to A-Info’s source, they were compelled to
make the “donation.”

TURKEY WILL RECOGNIZE OR WILL COLLAPSE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Kiro Manoyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, in charge of Hay Dat and political
affairs, stated November 22 in Yerevan that the U.S. House or the
Senate have adopted three resolutions in the past 30 years condemning
the Armenian genocide, however the U.S. government has always avoided
using the word genocide to refer to the Armenian Genocide in 1915.
Matthew Bryza, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a
high-ranking State Department official, stated they are against
that the U.S. Congress adopt a new resolution, but the Democrats are
majority in the Congress, and it is possible that such a resolution
will be adopted, stated Kiro Manoyan. Like the previous three, the
fourth resolution will be a mere tool for pressure on Turkey.
Kiro Manoyan notices that the U.S. government is not doubting the fact
of the genocide but it does not speak about it not to exercise pressure
on Turkey. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Armenia Richard Hoagland
doubted the fact of the genocide. “This is Hoagland’s fault,” stated
Kiro Manoyan, who thinks that the best solution of this problem
would be appointing another person ambassador to Armenia. Or at
least announce clearly that the United States does not doubt there
was a genocide.
The U.K., which is closer to the political line of the United States,
is against adopting resolutions on the Armenian genocide. Kiro
Manoyan thinks that the U.K. also does not want to exercise pressure
on Turkey because it views Turkey as bridging dialogues between the
civilizations. But “Turkey became a Turkish Republic, dismissing
the question of the genocide, and founded this republic on this
purification acknowledging their guilt, and will continue living with
this feeling until it collapses one day,” stated Kiro Manoyan.

ADVERTISING ARMENIA ON CNN COSTS 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The deputy minister of trade and economic development Ara Petrosyan
stated in a news conference on November 22 that the government is
implementing a number of serious projects. One of these projects
is advertisement of Armenia on CNN since September 2006. One of the
advertisements presents Armenia as a place tourists can visit. The
second tells about the country. As for the question how much was
spent for each show, “1000 U.S. dollars for each show,” says Ara
Petrosyan. It is foreseen to show the ads 400 times, 30 times within
8 days. Hence, 400 thousand U.S. dollars was spent on advertising
our country on CNN.

READY TO TAKE OUR SHARE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Kiro Manoyan, ARF, responsible for Hay Dat and political affairs,
stated November 22 at the Pastark Club that over the upcoming 5 or
10 years he does not expect that Turkey will recognize the Armenian
Genocide and at the same time he said he believes the day will come
when not only the Turkish state but at least the Turkish society will
speak about that period in their history more calmly and they will not
punish those who speak. Today “the Turkish state or the government is
to blame. They do not prepare the society, they prevent discussion
of the issue.” Kiro Manoyan did not exclude that over the past 5
or 10 years Turkey will say something formal which will satisfy the
international community.
Kiro Manoyan believes that the pressure of the international community
on Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide has a positive influence,
however, the pro-Armenian resolutions adopted by one country or
another or any international organization are political values which
do not have legal force. “If Turkey states that these resolutions
do not influence it, these will not have a value as a political
document. However, Turkey becomes nervous after every resolution
recognizing the Armenian genocide. After the bill adopted by the
French Senate and the victory of the Democrats in the U.S.
Congress Turkey is again worried, and Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gyul has stated that the problem of the Armenian genocide is going
to be the prime foreign political issue of Turkey. Of course, Turkey
tries to oppose to pro-Armenian resolutions and refuses to buy French
goods. “But these boycotts end up in restoring economic ties because
these ties were not set up out of love for France but these companies
were lucrative for Turkey.”
Besides breaking economic relations for a short time now Turkey is
trying to raise the question of the Armenian Genocide in different
international organizations, Kiro Manoyan stated, adding that today
Turkey focuses on appealing to the international tribunal although
“the new tactics of Turkey is the same as the former.” And according
to Kiro Manoyan, they can appeal to the international court, which
can only clarify “how many people died during the genocide, how many
were taken to hospital, what the Turks did to the Armenians, and
what the Armenians did.” According to Kiro Manoyan, Armenia should
not argue with Turkey from this rostrum. It simply needs to have a
package of documents, most importantly, the agreement of Sevres and
appeal to international organizations in a corresponding political
atmosphere. Kiro Manoyan thinks that we can use all the means to
exercise pressure on Turkey, economic, military, etc. “But I do not
mean waging a war now. The possible establishment of the Kurdish
state in Iraq worries Turkey. There are rumors that the map of the
Near East will change. It is not necessary to undertake change. We
must be ready to take our share when change takes place.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL HAVE PEOPLE RISE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
“Karabakh underlay all our political arrangements and our opinion
has not changed so far. I think it is not expedient and I would like
to call the political sphere not to manipulate Karabakh,” stated the
leader of the Republican Faction Galust Sahakyan November 22. With
regard to the approach of the Republican Party towards the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict, Galust Sahakyan told the news reporters that
the Republican has stated its standpoint and did not deny it. As for
returning territories, Galust Sahakyan says he can say that they are
not going to return the territories but they are going to liberate
West Armenia.
“But the reality is different. First there must be negotiations. Our
stance is first the status of Karabakh, then the talks. At that time
everyone will have a problem to decide and I cannot be responsible for
everyone, at least, we will tend to create more favorable conditions
for getting people to rise and solve the problem,” Galust Sahakyan
stated.
According to him, the current statements on the return of territories
are mere rumors. “In fact, people are trying to invent something
to criticize, and then to battle against this invention. Moreover,
it is my personal opinion, I have stated it for several times, I
do not consider the settlement of the Karabakh conflict possible in
the upcoming years, certain approaches may emerge or certain results
may be reported, but the final settlement will be in 2012, I think,”
said the leader of the Republicans in the National Assembly.

ISSUE OF TERRITORIES IN THE PERIOD OF POLITICAL TRADE
Hakob Hakobyan
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The myth of the year 2006 died before it was born. The OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs are already preparing the publics for the year 2007.
It is realistic. Moreover, if they started to prepare the publics
for the year 2017, they could be referred to as not only realistic
but prophets. But there is something that does not allow referring to
them by this title. When they assured that 2006 is a favorable year,
they always added that if the issue were not settled in the year of
the open window, it would be very painful, and we would have no hope
to settle the issue in the next two years because it was a period of
elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this situation, it is amazing
when suddenly the co-chairs start moving the hope of 2006 to the year
2007. In addition, the U.S. co-chair Matthew Bryza was the first to
do this, who stated that the pre-election reality in Armenia does not
mean that the settlement of the conflict in the pre-election period in
Armenia is impossible. And Bryza was right. The pre-election period
is the best period to settle the conflict, for in this period the
government is more vulnerable. In other words, it is ready to reach
any agreement to prevent a flower revolution. On the other hand, there
is an opinion that by signing an agreement the Armenian government
writes its own verdict. In other words, the political forces will
come together and remove the government from power.
Perhaps this is what logic says. But let us see how many of the
political forces of Armenia differ in their approaches to the
settlement. One example is enough. Even Samvel Babayan, who claims
to the laurels of the victory in the Karabakh war, is stating that
a compromise is inevitable. The liberal wing descending from the
former government are stating this, the opposition is stating this
without an exception. Presently Robert Kocharyan is accused of not
only willingness to return the territories but also for having come to
power vowing not to return the territories. In other words, they are
not indignant that he returns the territories but that he “cheated”.
In other words, the political sphere has nearly such an approach,
“We might return it as well, why you should?”
Strange though it may seem, we have to confess that there is no
influential political force in the country which won, which would
stand up for not returning the territories. Moreover, not only with
the groundless romantism of “not a patch of land” but logically,
explaining that returning the territories attacks the interests of
the Armenian state which cannot develop on its own security which
is taken away from the one who returns, and returning, according to
Aghasi Aivazyan, is endless. And this prejudice of returning which
is viewed by the Armenian political thought as a guarantee of their
own success can be used best in the pre-election period, because
it is not but a period of political trade. The problem is with whom
the political forces are likely to deal, Robert Kocharyan and Serge
Sargsyan who are ready to return the territories or the West which is
ready to take these territories. It is natural that Robert Kocharyan
and Serge Sargsyan can give less than the West – only a parliamentary
mandate. But what else do our political forces need to be happy? It
is good that they are satisfied with the little they have, otherwise
they would trade with the West on every matter. When they “bargain”
over the territories with the government, there is danger that we will
get away with little losses. In other words, we will return as much
as Kocharyan and Sargsyan want, in other words, in return for several
seats in the parliament the political forces will agree to justify
the return of territories by the prospect of economic development of
Armenia, and mitigate the possible dissatisfaction of the society.
If they wanted more, naturally, a wild competition would occur in the
political sphere of Armenia where the opposition, the pro-government
forces and the government would try to prove to the West that they
will return more if they come to power or stay in power. After all, it
makes no difference for the West whether the deal is made directly or
with Kocharyan as a middleman. The process is important, which leads to
the same goal, in fact. In addition, they would not like the Armenians
to give away whatever they have. And maybe the hopes connected with
2007 are that Armenia will, nevertheless, agree to keep some territory.

IT’S NECESSARY TO FORM ARMENIAN-TURKISH INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR SOLUTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE, KIRO MANOYAN FINDS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. After the adoption of the law by
France defining punishment for denial of the Armenian Genocide, a
concerned situation was created in Ankara, and it is not accidental
that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s statement that the
genocide issue will be the most important problem of the foreign policy
of Turkey during the coming ten years. Kiro Manoyan, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Office Director,
expressed such an opinion at the November 22 press conference. In his
words, the situation in Turkey became more hard after the democrats’
victory at the Congress elections of the United States of America
as the latters are known for their pro-Armenian posture, and newly
elected Speaker of the Congress, democrat Nancy Pelosi promised to
discuss the resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the plenary sitting
of the Congress.
In K.Manoyan’s words, in the created situation Turkey strives for
using a new strategy, that’s, to address to the international court
and move the issue on the historic field. “The Armenian side must
quickly oppose it and prove that it is necessary to discuss the issue
not at the Court of Arbitration, but at the International Court of
Justice,” K.Manoyan mentioned. In his words, as the two countries’
authorities must solve this issue, “it will be sensible” to create
an intergovernmental commission. Though the authorities of Turkey
state that the country society is not ready for the issue discussion,
they themselves keep the people far from that issue.
Responding the question “Why do the United States of America avoid
using the term “genocide?” K.Manoyan said that the U.S. avoids
that word as “it does not want to offend Turkey,” but not for it
calls the fact of genocide into question. “The only state which is
strictly against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is England,”
K.Manoyan stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPEN DOORS FOR THE FAMILY
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
People and civilizations are lost in time when information regarding
them is not recorded and preserved. The same relates to families,
as families are an essential part of society and culture.
On November 18, 06 the Family History Center held its open house. It
was founded in 2002 in Armenia by the Genealogical Society of Utah,
which has resources and experts worldwide. The Society is headquartered
in Utah, USA and is known as the world’s largest genealogical and
family history library in the world with its immense database. Over
one billion names in searchable databases, two and a half million
microfilms, more that 800,000 microfiches, and about 300,000 unique
and rare genealogical books and literature – such is the library
collection today.
The purpose of the Open House was to inform the public of this
facility’s existence and of the various services it offers. The
Center provides a great opportunity to those who are interested in
the research of their family history and in genealogy in general. It
provides such services as: creating pedigree charts, internet search
in the genealogical websites, training on working with microfilms,
consultations on research methods and data resources, education
seminars, etc.
Similar centers (about 4000) operate in 88 countries and are sponsored
by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Church
places strong emphasis on creation and conservation of families and
on preservation of family history records. Even though the centers
are usually located in the church buildings, they are open to and
serve people of all nations and religions worldwide.
There is also a website available for further
research. The website has over 50,000 visitors per day.
The Center in Yerevan has a collection of specialized books, records,
dictionaries for geographical names, reference books and microfilms,
which have been donated by the Armenian Genealogical Center in Utah,
USA. The collection contains records on Armenian emigrants and
refugees from 15 countries spread throughout the world after the
Armenian Genocide. The 15 countries are: USA, Australia, Albania,
Austria, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Syria, India, Indonesia, Jordan,
Holland, Israel, Bangladesh, and Poland. Trained volunteers of the
Center assist attendees making their research more efficient.
The services of the Center are free to the public. It is located on
Vratsakan St. 5, Yerevan and is open every day including Sundays. For
verification of hours and for further information, please, call
25-32-06.

LIKE UGANDA AND KENYA
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
If Sweden and North Korea are appointed as the poles of freedom and
unfreedom of the world, Armenia will be near the latter. The British
“Economist” magazine thinks in this way, which keeps publishing some
interesting publications about CIS. According to “Azatutiun” b/s,
the experts of “Economist” have put our country in the 110th place
among 167. According to the periodical, the countries of the world
are divided into 3 types; perfectly democratic /13%/, authoritarian
/55 countries/, and mixed regimes/30 states, including ours, as
well as Russia, Georgia and Turkey. In honor us, Azerbaijan is among
authoritarian countries. Perhaps the reader won’t be surprised that Armenia has the worst
index in the “electoral processes” and “degree of dissent” categories
/4,33 by 10 points schedule/. In these spheres our level is like
Uganda’s and Kenya’s levels. Our situation in “effectivеness
of management” and “existence of political culture” categories is
also depressing. And here again, there is no need to cast doubt on
the rightness of the information. It is enough to look at the RA NA
parliamentarians’ faces, and the level of our political culture will
be obvious for any sincere observer. The most interesting is the “Economist’s” prediction about the future
of Armenia. “The parliamentary elections in May 2007 may be held by
serious omissions, – the magazine writes, which will lead the country
back to the authoritarian regime of ruling”. Here the Englishmen are
careful using the word “may”. The above-mentioned omissions can’t be
held without serious omissions, for the reason that the major part of
voters doesn’t intend to make a political election. Only “benevolent
persons” may gain the public sympathy, and it is encouraged by the
official propaganda, according to which, political projects are empty
conversations, and a sack of potatoes is a real thing. Certainly the authorities may say that “Economist” isn’t objective,
famous and expresses the order of British Oil Corporation. If it is
a consolation, let them find that in it.