Month: November 2006

NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR: QUICK SOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIANS MORE THAN AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY
Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2006
New Turkish Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ambassador to Azerbaijan
Hussein Avni Karsioglu’s exclusive interview to the APA.
How did you meet your appointment as ambassador to Azerbaijan?
I am very excited. We were brought up with Azeri verses, songs,
and tales. Later while working in Iran – Ardabil, Tabriz we enjoyed
Azerbaijani poets’ works. During the reign of Soviet Union watching
opposite side of Iranian borders we asked if we would be able to
visit Azerbaijan.
The beginning of the new stage of partnership among Turkish countries
is especially noted nowadays. As a diplomat closely acquainted with
the region what are your plans concerning realization of the new stage?
It is impossible for an ambassador to solve everything on his own. We
have to determine joint problems with Turkish and Azerbaijani leaders
and realize joint projects. I will do my best to raise the living
standards of our people. We have to cooperate with all organizations.
I can meet with anyone in order to help Turkish people.
You are closely acquainted with Nagorno Garabagh problem. How do you
estimate the present situation?
We wish the problem to be solved soon. Quick solution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict will be beneficial for Armenians more than Azerbaijan
and Turkey. Armenians are not our enemies. We want them to gain
democracy and human rights, but not at the expense of occupying
others’ lands.
And not genocide claims against Turkey…
Of course. This is the other illogical side of the problem.
When are you leaving for Baku?
The date is not exact, very likely at the end of December. I am
looking forward to go to Azerbaijan.
Can we expect any new dimensions in the bilateral relations after
you take up your assignment?
I am very excited and will be more excited when I meet with
Azerbaijani poets and writers. I will be very happy to meet Bakhtiyar
Vahabzadeh. His poems guided us.
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Q&A: ACCOUNT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TRANSLATED SO OTHERS WILL NOT REPEAT ATROCITIES
By Phyllis Sides
Journal Times Online, WI –
Nov 21 2006
Second of two parts: The first genocide of the 20th century started in
Turkey in April 1915. Racine resident Mariam Sahakian has a first-hand
account in her father’s memoirs. Sahakian’s father, Varteres Mikael
Garougian, survived the killing and recorded his experiences for
posterity.
Armenians say that Turkish authorities executed 1.5 million people
between 1915-1923, accusing them of helping the invading Russian Army
during World War I. Turkey rejects the genocide claim, saying Armenians
were killed in civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
However, Henry Morgenthau, the United States ambassador to Ottoman
Turkey between 1913 and 1916, wrote of the mistreatment and killings
of the Armenians in “Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story,” a memoir of his
years in Turkey. Because the past is important Sahakian translated
her father’s memoirs into English.
This is part two of a two-part interview. The first part was published
Monday.
When did you decide to translate your father’s memoirs and how long
did it take? Shortly after I retired in 1988, I began to read again
our father’s gift to us – his treasure, the manuscript that he had
left to my brother and me. As a tribute to our parents, I began
translating it by 1990, intending to make it available to my family
and my brother Mikael. However, as I worked on it, I realized that
my father’s uncommon life might be of interest to others.
The whole process took me over 12 years to complete because I used
quite a few sources to corroborate some events Varteres describes,
as well as searching for maps and geographical sources, contacting a
number of living survivors, etc. Also, I didn’t work on it everyday
and when I did, it usually was for only two to three hours at a time.
When he died in 1958, my father’s Armenian manuscript, interspersed
with some Turkish, French, Arabic, consisted of 286 legal size,
handwritten pages of text only and was not completely ready for
publication in Armenian. There were several separate sections, as well
as some eyewitness accounts by others, which had to be incorporated
into the text as I translated it.
To his work I added a translator’s preface, title, chapters and chapter
headings, 16 pages of footnotes, a Turkish and an Armenian glossary,
a suggested bibliography, and a 19-page index. In addition to all
the above, I sketched three maps and selected photos with captions.
The Armenian title my father had used was “Narrations from my life:
what I saw, heard, and endured.” However, I changed it to “Destiny of
the Dzidzernag.” When he was a French Legionnaire, he was sending
articles to Armenian newspapers in America using the pseudonym
“Dzidzernag,” which is the swallow that symbolizes Armenia. I think
of my parents – in fact all the Armenian immigrants of those times as
Dzidzernags – and this tribute is for all those immigrants, who as
my father describes it in his manuscript, were uprooted from their
ancestral lands and courageously tried to relocate elsewhere were –
and I quote him – “like seeds flung to the winds.”
What did you learn from the process? I learned how important our roots
are, as well as developed a greater appreciation for our immigrant
parents, as well as other immigrants. I marvel at their ability to
leave homeland and find roots in such faraway places – also their
ability to survive such horrendous difficulties and cruelties.
Although we were taught to speak Armenian by our parents and to read
and write by our father in the safety of our home in this country,
we only were aware of how precarious and uncommon their previous
lives had been. A few hints now and then, or a brief story of some
troubles they had encountered. Reading my father’s manuscript as well
as other related sources while translating has left us in awe of our
parents’ lives.
Why is your translation important? The word `genocide’ was coined
by our President Woodrow Wilson, a true scholar, who was active
in promoting the League of Nations after World War I. “Destiny
of the Dzidzernag” is a factual record of those times. My 19-page
index includes numerous people’s names and places, since many have
been changed or are no more, as well as some events. The suggested
bibliography and my footnotes add to its value. Professor Robert O.
Krikorian’s enlightening foreword emphasizes the historical importance
of Varteres’ translated memoirs. I will remain grateful to him for
encouraging me to have it published and showing me the path to do so.
Hopefully, this book, in its own small way, will help readers to
understand they must prevent genocide, atrocities. In the 1930s,
when some in Adolph Hitler’s circle of advisors argued against
his plan to exterminate the Jewish people, he convincingly stated,
“After all, who now remembers the Armenians?” Let us always keep in
mind this famous statement by George Santayana; “Those who cannot
remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
06/11/21/local/columns/iq_4284040.txt

ARMENIAN RAMKAVAR AZATAKAN PARTY LEAVES WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS
Regnum, Russia
Nov 21 2006
One of founders of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) Armenian Ramkavar
Azatakan Party (ARAP) announced about its leaving the abovementioned
organization. According to a party statement released on November
20, initially the ARAP enthusiastically appreciated prospect of
establishing such organization.
According to the statement, it became disappointed soon with chaotic
and irresponsible functioning of the WAC. In particular, leadership of
the ARAP repeatedly requested leadership of the WAC to submit a report
on its functioning. It has not received yet such report; it is said
in the statement. In that connection, the ARAP central governing body
stated that it did not account for the WAC functioning, as well as for
functioning and publications of the Azg newspaper which was handed over
to another owner against the party’s wish and without its agreement
whereas all party efforts to change the false order remained fruitless.
It is worth stressing; the WAC was founded in 2003 when parliamentary
elections were conducted in Armenia. Brother of the WAC Chairman and
Russian Armenian Union (RAU) Chairman Ara Abramyan Gagik Abramyan was
nominated according to the ARAP party lists; however, the ARAP did not
manage to overcome the 5% barrier. Gagik Abramyan stated recently that
he was going to participate in parliamentary elections again; however,
he gave it to understand that he was not going to cooperate with the
ARAP. In his turn, Ara Abramyan stated o November 20 that importance of
political sympathies of the RAU should not be overestimated. “However,
at present, we need to familiarize ourselves with election programs
of Armenian political parties,” the RAU chairman stated adding that
decision on contributing to any political party in Armenia might be
made in collective way during discussions in frameworks of the RAU
and the WAC.

UN OFFICIAL SAYS TURKEY IS NOT READY FOR THE EU
Azka Khan
Daily Kent Stater, OH
Nov 21 2006
United Nations official Miroslav Jovanovic spoke last night in the
Governace Chambers about the controversy surrounding Turkey’s admission
to the European Union. About 50 people attended the lecture.
KATIE ROUPE | DAILY KENT STATER
United Nations official Miroslav Jovanovic thinks the controversy
surrounding Turkey’s admission to the European Union is not about
politics, but more about the country’s culture and society.
Jovanovic, economic affairs officer in the transport division of the
United Nations Economic Commission, presented his argument on the
issues surrounding Turkey’s addition to the EU last night in the Kent
Student Center Governance Chambers.
The lecture, titled “Turkey in the European Union: Euthanasia or the
Rejuvenation of Europe,” was sponsored by the Lemnitzer Center for NATO
and European Union Studies through its Gerald H. Reed lecture series.
The European Union made its world debut in 1992 and currently includes
25 member countries. The EU is a political powerhouse that represents
power, prestige and prosperity.
Turkey, a country that meets very few EU requirements, applied for
membership last year. The membership has yet to be finalized, but
the long wait has some critics speaking out.
“There are only two countries that the EU is considering for
enlargement, and those are Croatia and Turkey.” Jovanovic said. “The
controversy is really about the readiness of the European Union to
accept such a large and relatively poor country.”
According to Jovanovic, there are issues to consider about Turkey’s
readiness and willingness to accept the Union’s closed regulations,
policies and spirits.
“If you want to join a club,” Jovanovic said, “you have to follow
the rules of the club.”
Jovanovic provided a number of reasons why Turkey does not meet the
rules of the EU and why the country will most likely not be accepted.
“It’s not that Turkey has to change its constitution, but the EU has
to change its constitution if Turkey is accepted,” he said.
His first reason is Turkey’s past, in terms of political relations
with other European countries, specifically Cyprus and Armenia.
“Turkey doesn’t recognize Cyprus as a country,” he said. “Then there
is the Armenian Genocide of 1915, in which millions of Armenians were
slaughtered by the Turks.”
Jovanovic said Turkey must accept its past before moving forward with
involvement with the EU.
Civil rights is another issue, he said.
He continued by saying the freedom of expression in Turkey is at a
very low level compared to the EU standards. He also mentioned that
the treatment of women needs to be improved.
When focusing on Turkey’s economy, Jovanovic said Turkey would need
61 years in order to catch up with the average GDP of the EU.
“It is on its way to European modernity,” Jovanovic said. “But there
is still a few steps that it has to take.”
About 50 people attended the lecture.
“I think it is interesting to see both the EU and Turkey perspective,”
said Lisa Kurz, a junior international relations major.
“It’s also interesting to learn about the cost and restrictions of
the EU.”

MAN STABBED, KILLED IN PARKING LOT OF TOYS R US
CBS 2, CA
Nov 21 2006
(CBS) VAN NUYS, Calif. A Canyon Country resident was fatally stabbed
after getting into an argument with a group of men in the parking
lot of a Toys R Us store in Van Nuys, police said Monday.
Wayne Allen Moyer, 36, began arguing with the men at 16040 Sherman
Way at 9:50 last night, and the dispute escalated into a fight,
during which time Moyer was stabbed in the chest, police said.
Moyer’s companion tried to rush him to the hospital, but only made
it as far as the 7200 block of Lindley Avenue in Reseda, where police
found him lying in the bed of a pickup truck.
The suspects, described only as Armenian men in their early 20s,
drove away in a white sport utility vehicle and a black Honda Civic
or Accord.
Anyone with additional information was asked to call homicide
detectives at (818) 374-0040. On weekends or evenings, call (877)
529-3855.

KOCHARIAN WANTS OPEN BORDERS WITH TURKEY YET REFUSE ANY STEP
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
* Kocharian urges establishment of diplomatic ties with Turkey
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated late Thursday that Turkey,
as a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, should follow a
“different approach” on the issue of establishing diplomatic relations
with neighbouring Yerevan. Turkey on the other hand argues that
Armenia should withdraw its armed forces from neigbouring Azerbaijan
and should recognise Turkey’s national borders. Armenia does not
recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders.
Stressing that diplomatic relations should be established without
preconditions and prejudices, Mr. Kocharian claimed that although
his country had suggested to Turkey the establishment of diplomatic
relations, Ankara refused. “Our suggestion is still valid,” he said
in a speech at a meeting organized by the Bertelsmann Association in
Berlin. However a Turkish diplomat in Ankara does not find Kocharian’s
statement serious adding “Armenia is not in a position to offer
diplomatic relations with Turkey”. Reminding that Armenian forces
have been occupying almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories,
the diplomat added Armenia first must follow a peacefull policy in
the region.
Kocharian accepted in his speech that Turkey was an important
country. Kocharian said “Turkey closed its borders with Armenia” yet
he did not give the reason behind the decision. Kocharian did also
not touch the open air borders between two countries. Many Armenians
travel every week between two countries via airplanes.
* ‘Proposal for historians’ commission is a ploy’
The Armenian president Kocharian further dismissed the Turkish Prime
Minister tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to establish a joint commission
of historians to study the Armenian historical claims as a “Turkish
ploy” by which he claimed Ankara will try to distance itself from the
core of the alleged issue. According to the Armenian side, there is
nothing to be discussed, and Turkey has to accept what the Armenian
side says. Last week Turkish Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul declared
that Turkey has been studying to go to the international court for the
Armenian claims. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from the Ankara-based USAK told the
JTW “Armenians have never gone to the courts but parliaments, because
they do want to keep the issue in the political area. They know that
they would lose any case if they go to the international or local
courts. International law says that the 1915 events is not genocide”.
Kocharian made the remarks in response to former German Ambassador
Dietrich Kyaw, who asked him why he had rejected Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal of a historians’ commission to examine
the genocide allegations. Turkey has offered many alternatives to
establish dialogue between Turkey and Armenia to solve all problems,
including the genocide claims. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
even invited Mr. Kocharian to Istanbul, yet all of these offers and
invitations were strongly rejected by Armenia and its president.
Kocharian also stated that Yerevan wants the establishment of a
commission of politicians instead of a commission of historians
and said, “Politicians, not historians, have responsibility for the
‘genocide’.” However Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner, Turkish expert on
Armenian studies, asked “why politicians?”. Laciner further continued:
“Which politicians are responsible for the so-called genocide? The
exisiting politicians in Turkey? It is really difficult to understand
Mr. Kocharian. According to the International Law, individuals are
responsible for genocide crime. It means that even if we consider
the 1915 events as Genocide, today’s Turkey or its politicians canno
be responsible for the events happened almost a century ago. 1915 is
past, Mr. President has to realise that we live in 2006, not in 1915.
Historians, political scientists or lawyers should discuss the claims,
not the politicians.”
Kocharian: ‘Nagorno-Karabakh is independent’
Armenian President Robert Kocharian also claimed that the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence following the
collapse of the Soviet Union and the enclave has never been a part of
Azerbaijan, though the region was one of the provinces of Azerbaijan
during the Soviet Union. The European Union and the OSCE officialy
condemned Armenia as occupier in Karabakh. No state in the world,
including Armenia officially recognises Nagorno-Karabakh. Apart from
Karabakh, some other towns of Azerbaijan have also been under the
Armenian occupation.

DARCHINYAN SET FOR WORLD TITLE DEFENCE
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
The West Australian, Australia
The Age, Australia
Nov 22 2006
Australia’s dual world flyweight boxing champion Vic Darchinyan may
have to forgo some Christmas cheer, with a mandatory defence against
former world champion, Victor Burgos mooted for early January.
IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan returned earlier this week from the
country of his birth, Armenia, where he took a break following the
successful defence of his titles against Filipino Glenn Donaire in
Las Vegas last month.
According to Darchinyan, his next fight could well be in the same
city on January 7 on a proposed Don King promotion.
His American promoter Gary Shaw has told Darchinyan his next bout
will be against leading IBF contender Burgos.
The 32-year-old Mexican formerly held the IBF light flyweight world
title.
While his overall record includes 14 losses alongside 39 wins and
three draws, Burgos has suffered just one defeat in his last 12
contests stretching over six years.
Darchinyan revealed he had a special incentive to win his next contest
as the IBO would present him with a ring if he made a fifth successful
defence of its title.
The 30-year-old southpaw has already earned a ring from the IBF after
making three victorious defences of that title, though he has yet to
collect it.
He was still waiting to hear whether his appeal over the official
result of his fight against Donaire was successful.
The contest was declared a technical decision victory for Darchinyan
after Donaire was unable to continue beyond the sixth round due to
a jaw injury the referee deemed caused by a head clash.
Darchinyan was adamant there was no such contact and has lobbied
for the result to be amended to a KO, which would be the 21st of his
unbeaten professional log of 27 fights.
Meanwhile veteran Shannan Taylor today announced he would fight Nonoy
Gonzales for the vacant IBF Australasian middleweight title at Fairy
Meadow on December 15.
Taylor said he was more focused than for his last fight where he
suffered a shock loss to Canadian Ian MacKillop back in July, when
he was distracted by promotional problems outside the ring.
He said he planned to move back to light middleweight and fight
MacKillop in a re-match next February, provided he defeated Gonzales,
who has lost his last seven bouts.
Taylor, who will also promote the December 15 show, said the undercard
would include world ranked Nedal Hussein and unbeaten rising stars
Daniel Geale and Lenny Zappavigna.

ŞENSOY URGES ALL-OUT EFFORTS AGAINST ‘GENOCIDE’ MOVE IN US
Turkish Daily News
Nov 22 2006
Turkish Ambassador to the United States Nabi Şensoy yesterday
sought support from the Turkish government, opposition parties, the
press and business circles as well as nongovernmental organizations
in a move to prevent an alleged Armenian genocide resolution from
being brought up in the U.S. Congress.
“There is a need for all-out efforts,” Şensoy was quoted as saying
by the Anatolia news agency. Şensoy stressed it was significant
to obtain support from Turkish authorities, the government, the
opposition and NGOs.
Şensoy also said no resolution on the alleged genocide was
expected to appear on the agenda of the U.S. Congress by the end of
this year but added that it might be likely after the new Congress
takes charge as of January. “The U.S. administration will assume a
stance on the issue by taking into consideration the integrity of
bilateral relations [with Turkey],” he added.
A group of Turkish lawmakers including Istanbul deputy Egemen
Bagiş, a close aide to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies Reha Denemec and
Mevlut Cavuşoglu, as well as main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) deputy Zeynep Damla Gurel traveled to the United States
to attend the annual meeting of the Working Group on Turkey in the
U.S. Congress.
The Turkish lawmakers’ visit came after the election victory handed
control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to the
Democrats following the Nov. 7 congressional elections. U.S. Armenian
groups have welcomed the Democratic Party’s landslide win in the
elections and voiced an expectation that the new Congress would
formally recognize last century’s Armenian killings in the Ottoman
Empire as genocide.
In France, a conference on minorities will be held on Nov. 25 on the
occasion of Armenian year, news reports said yesterday.
France declared September 2006-July 2007 as the Armenian year.
Ankara has warned Paris not to let the activities be dominated by
the alleged genocide. France welcomed the comment but said it cannot
control local activities to that effect.

NGOS NOT READY YET TO MEET WITH GOV’T ON 301
Fulya Ozerkan
Turkish Daily News
Nov 22 2006
‘We’re keeping up with studies, and dialogue is in place despite a
partial lack of reconciliation among the NGOs,’ says Necdet Okcan,
a lawyer for DİSK
Representatives from leading trade unions and nongovernmental
organizations have no plans to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan as long as they remain divided over possible changes to a
controversial article of the penal code that the European Union says
restricts freedom of expression, said a lawyer for one of the NGOs
actively involved in studies to come up with concrete proposals on
the article in question.
“I don’t think that there will be a meeting [with Erdogan] without
reconciliation among the NGOs on how to change Article 301,” Necdet
Okcan, lawyer for the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions
(DİSK), told the Turkish Daily News.
“We’re keeping up with studies, and dialogue is in place despite a
partial lack of reconciliation among the NGOs,” he added. Okcan also
said a face-to-face meeting with the government was not the only
option, noting that they could submit proposals in written format
after reaching a compromise among themselves.
Turkey is under EU pressure to amend or scrap Article 301, which
has landed a string of intellectuals in court for denigrating Turkish
identity or “Turkishness” and some for comments on the alleged genocide
of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In its key report
earlier this month, the EU’s executive arm, the commission, clearly
said it was necessary for Turkey to ensure freedom of expression
without delay “by repealing or amending Article 301.”
In a move to bring its legislation in line with European standards,
the government has sought support from NGOs to that effect.
Erdogan has recently met with representatives from leading trade
unions and NGOs to hear their opinions on how to change Article 301.
NGOs are expected to introduce a set of proposals and arrangements
to the government in order to make the law more clear and hinder
any misinterpretation.
“Everyone should draw similar conclusions from laws. It’s not correct
to play with major laws such as those in the penal code; they should
have a sound basis,” Okcan added.
DİSK, the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions
(Turk-İş), the Labor Confederation (Hak-İş), the
Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Unions (TİSK), the Turkish
Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), the Economic
Development Foundation (İKV), the Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen’s Association (TUSİAD), the Turkish Agriculturalists’
Union, the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) and the Turkish Television
Broadcasters’ Union are actively studying proposals for possible
changes to Article 301.
Press Council Chairman Oktay Ekşi, meanwhile, had earlier sent
a letter to Erdogan, listing in detail the council’s proposals for
amendments to the article.

TALKS ON RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT INTENSIFIES – FRENCH CO-CHAIR AT OSCE MINSK GROUP
Author: A.Mammadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Russian Ambassador, Yuriy Merzlyakov,
stated in Baku on 22 November that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have
further proposals on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
which at present is being discussed confidentially, Trend reports.
Speaking on the results of the visit to Yerevan and talks held
with the Armenian leaders, the mediator said that the Armenian side
confirmed its willingness to participate in the talks. We hope the
same applies in Baku by the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev,”
he added. The diplomat also noted that the U.S. Ambassador, Matthew
Bryza, intends to meet with the leader of the Armenian community of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasian in Los Angeles, and therefore,
was unable to visit the region with the Minsk Group mission.
Nevertheless, he voiced his hope that all 3 co-chairs would be present
at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Minsk
on 28 November 2006.
The French Ambassador Fassie announced that negotiations are continuing
intensively. “We have met with the Foreign Ministers three times
over the last few weeks. We are trying to build a wall in the hope
of establishing a base for future agreements on the resolution of
the conflict. We add a brick each time a positive step is taken,”
he stated .