Month: November 2006

TRANSLATION COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 20 2006
The Deer Leap fund and State Language Department have announced
a translation competition for ethnic minority students, reports
newspaper Sakartvelos Respublika.
Young translators from Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri schools will be
asked to translate a poem from Azeri or Armenian into Georgian.
Azeri pupils will translate a poem by Azeri poet Valeh Hajiev and
Armenian pupils will translate Vahan Terian’s poetry.
In another part of the competition, famous Georgian poetry is to be
translated into Armenian and Azeri. For this component, well-loved
Georgian poet Galaktion Tabidze’s The Wind Blows has been selected.
The top three entrants will receive special prizes, including personal
computers, electronic equipment and book tokens. The deadline for
accepting translations is December 10.

Q&A: WORDS FILLED WITH PAIN; DAUGHTER KEEPS FATHER’S MEMOIRS ALIVE FOR FUTURE ARMENIAN GENERATIONS
By Phyllis Sides
Journal Times Online, WI
Nov 20 2006
Copies of “Destiny of the Dzidzernag” are available at Amazon.com or
St. Mesrob Armenian Church’s gift shop, 4605 Erie St.
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 Turk 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 one of a two-part interview. The second installment will
appear in Tuesday’s paper.
Tell me about your father: Varteres Mikael Garougian was born the
eldest of three sons on Sept. 14, 1892 in Khoulakyough village in
the province of Kharpert, located in Turkish Armenia.
In 1911, to avoid being taken at 19 years of life into the much
feared and dreaded Turkish military, his parents paid a bedel –
temporary exemption fee – as well as bribes to Turkish authorities.
They arranged for him to go to America temporarily to work in safety
and earn money, hopefully for a short time.
In departing, Varteres left behind everything he loved – his wife
Manan, his parents, two brothers and his village. When those horrible
times began in 1915 in Armenia, which the then Turkish government
referred to as “deportations” but were actually massacres and death
marches, he and other similarly displaced young Armenian men in
Racine were shocked, helpless and disturbed, bitterly questioning
among themselves why they were spared while their loved ones in
Armenia were not.
Seeking a possible means of returning to his homeland to search for
his loved ones who might have survived, in 1917 Varteres left safety
in America to join the Legion Armenienne (French Foreign Legion)
or Legion d”Orient in New York. While in Armenia, as a Legionnaire
soldier Varteres sought information about his family, corresponding
with a considerable number of persons. In so doing he became well known
as an intermediary for many survivors who desperately needed help.
In 1920, it was finally through missionaries that he found injured
Manan and later his young brother Krikor. Everyone else he knew in
Armenia had perished or been lost. After getting his wife to safety
with missionaries and other survivor friends, Varteres was captured
by Turkish authorities and taken away to face certain death. It was
only through his cleverness and a miraculous reprieve that he was
placed instead in the Turkish military in 1921.
Eventually he returned to Kharpert to help his young brother get
settled and after several perilous attempts, found his way, again,
back to Manan. By 1923 he realized that only by again leaving Manan
to return to America to get his U.S. citizenship would he and Manan
be able to live safely in America.
For many years “Baron Varteres” – as the students called him – was
director and an instructor of the Armenian night school in the State
Street Saint Mesrob Church, which was attended by a large number of
Armenian children.
Why did your father write his memoirs? First, my father wanted his
children and future grandchildren to know of, and to be proud of,
their ancestors, whom they were never privileged to see, unfortunately,
because most of their ancestors were killed or perished during the
1915-1923 death marches/massacres which the then Turkish government
called “deportations.”
Also, because he felt many other immigrant Armenians were being lured
by the freedom, ease of life, and busy lives they had in America
which enticed them to forget their important past lives as well as
their terrible experiences during the deportations, he felt he must
write. In fact, he hoped and eagerly anticipated that others would
write of their experiences as well, but apparently not many did. By
1957-58, Varteres had almost completed his Armenian manuscript and
was contacting people to get it published in Armenian before he died
suddenly in 1958.
Why are your father’s memoirs important? Between 1911 through 1930,
keeping notes of his experiences, even through the most difficult
times whenever he was able to jot things down, helped him to keep
his sanity. Later on, being a perfectionist, compiling these notes
into a narrative was of great importance to him.
He felt pride in being an Armenian, knowing his ancestors, language,
history, and his culture. Because of all that was forbidden and
wrenched away by the happenings in 1915-23 by the Ottoman Turkish
government of those days, he felt he must keep alive what he could of
his background upon immigrating a second time to this free, wonderful
land of hope – America.
6/11/20/local/columns/iq_4284003.txt

ALIYEV SAYS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COOPERATION MUST BE IMPROVED AMONG TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Friday that economic
and political cooperation among the Turkish speaking countries must
be improved.
Speaking at the 8th Summit of Heads of State & Government of
Turkish-Speaking Countries in the southern Turkish city of Antalya,
Aliyev remembered that Turkey was the first country recognizing
independence of Azerbaijan.
“Economy of Azerbaijan develops rapidly. We have left economic
difficulties behind. Other Turkish-speaking states also overcame the
difficulties,” Aliyev added.
“World is changing. The incidents occurring in our region require
new relationships and cooperation,” he recalled.
“Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is a historic step. This will serve
economic development of the region. Inclusion of Kazakhstan to this
cooperation brings a new dynamism. Completion of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
natural gas pipeline means shipment of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey and
Europe,” Aliyev said.
Emphasizing that countries of the Caspian region have very rich natural
resources, Aliyev said, “these resources bring financial prosperity
to the region. The cooperation which was considered as a dream before,
is now realized.”
Stating that there were problems that create uneasiness in Azerbaijan,
Aliyev said, “ongoing Armenian occupation on Azerbaijan`s territory
is the biggest problem of our country. This is also a problem of
the region. We favor resolution of the problem through peaceful
means. The problem must be solved in line with the principles
of the U.N.. European Organizations do not have any effect on
Armenia. Azerbaijan lost 20 percent of its territory in the ethnic
cleansing. More than 1 million people were made refugee in their own
country.”
URL:

TURKEY IMPOSES DEFENSE SANCTIONS ON FRANCE
Middle East Newsline, Canada
Nov 20 2006
ANKARA [MENL] — Turkey has imposed defense sanctions on France.
Officials said Ankara would not consider French military and defense
cooperation in wake of the French parliament’s approval of a bill that
recognized the Turkish genocide of Armenians in 1918. They said France
would also not attend military and security meetings in Turkey. Both
countries are members of NATO.
Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said France would not be invited
to the biannual International Defense Fair in Ankara. The next IDEF
exhibition was meant to take place in September 2007.
“France has a renowned [defense] minister, but due to the recent
developments we haven’t sent her an invitation for the upcoming fair,”
Gonul said on Nov. 16. “France has not been officially invited to
the fair.”
NOTE: The above is not the full item.

FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER LEFT OFF GONUL’S DEFENSE FAIR GUEST LIST
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Nov 20 2006
Following Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug’s announcement
on Wednesday that military ties with France had been suspended,
the government also took a negative stance towards France. Defense
Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that he had not invited his French
counterpart Michele Alliot Maire to the Eighth International Defense
Fair (IDEF 2007) set for next May in Ankara. During a promotional
meeting, Gonul said that France had a respected defense minister, but
due to the recent developments, he had not been officially invited to
the fair in question. Meanwhile, commenting on Basbug’s announcement,
French Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau stated that
the statement had been made by a military commander but not by the
Turkish government, adding that no practical or concrete effect of
the declaration had been seen so far.
In addition, regarding Basbug’s statement, world media outlets
interpreted the move as “Turkey’s revenge” following the French
Parliament’s passage of a bill criminalizing denial of the alleged
Armenian genocide.

KOCHARIAN: “AS AN EU CANDIDATE, TURKEY SHOULD ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH ARMENIA”
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Nov 20 2006
Speaking at a conference in Berlin yesterday, Armenian President
Robert Kocharian said that as a European Union candidate, Turkey
should pursue a different approach by establishing diplomatic
relations with Armenia. Kocharian further complained that Turkey, an
important country in its region, has closed its border with Armenia,
adding that it should take a different stance. Kocharyan also said
that diplomatic ties between the two countries should be established
without any preconditions.

WAITING FOR ARMENIA’S ‘PORTERFIELD!’ MOMENT
The Times, UK
Nov 20 2006
YOU NEEDN’T WORRY yourselves why, but I was searching for information
about the Armenian Premier League the other day and was frustrated to
discover that the FFA (Football Federation of Armenia) still haven’t
got their website () uploaded, despite a little notice at
the domain insisting that it’s coming soon. Yes, so you keep saying,
Armenia! This low-tech irritation has been greeting me for at least
two months and I am getting close to going over the FFA’s heads and
writing directly to Ian Porterfield about it. Porterfield, as I’m
sure you’re aware, is in charge of the Armenia team. If you weren’t
aware of that, isn’t it a tremendous thing to have salted away now?
For those of you too young to remember, Ian’s surname, as barked
stoutly and irrevocably by David Coleman 30 minutes into the 1973 FA
Cup Final, is synonymous with upset, shock and sensation. He was the
“Porterfield!” whose unstoppable lash decided the game for Sunderland
over hot favourites Leeds United.
No footballer’s name has been broadcast with such boldness and
finality. However, a man can only coast so long on a 33-year-old
bombshell.
Why is he now dragging his feet over giving the world instant access
to breaking football news and events in his new workplace? A friend of
mine thinks it’s because men in Armenia, stylistically and tonsorially,
still look like the 1973 Sunderland squad and Porterfield wishes to
make sure that the nation isn’t playing a huge practical joke at his
expense before drawing back the curtain to the folks back home.
Maybe so. In this age of all things Borat, we must expect some kind
of tit-for-tat retaliation from our Eastern friends. Then again,
it is possible that Porterfield’s plans for this sleeping giant
of European soccer are so amazing that he doesn’t wish to give his
enemies a glimpse of the future.
Whatever it is, I do wish everyone over there would get a move on.
The last I heard, FC Pyunik were racing away with the Armenian league,
but that was ages ago. And as that cunning old fox now in charge knows
better than anyone, in football, everything can change in a heartbeat.

FINAL STATEMENT OF 8TH SUMMIT OF TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Turkish Press
Nov 20 2006
ANTALYA – A final statement of the 8th Summit of Heads of State of
Turkish-Speaking Countries (held in southern city of Antalya) was
released on Friday.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer of Turkey, President Nursultan Nazarbayev
of Kazakhstan, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President
Kurmanbek Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan signed the final statement.
The statement underlined the importance of boosting cooperation among
Turkish-Speaking countries and in Eurasia region.
It stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline were important projects at
the international platform.
“Improvement in international transportation between Turkey and
Turkish-Speaking countries will create new opportunities and contribute
to economy of regional countries,” it noted.
The final statement indicated that the Upper Karabakh issue, which was
an obstruction to lasting stability in southern Caucasus and regional
cooperation, should be solved through peaceful means in conformity
with Azerbaijan`s independence and its territorial integrity.
It stated, “solution of the Upper Karabakh issue will boost peace,
stability and prosperity in Eurasia.”
“Heads of state (of Turkish-Speaking countries) underlined the
importance of joint fight against terrorism, proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, human smuggling
and other organized crimes,” it stated.
The final statement noted that a global response must be given to
terrorism which became a global threat, stressing that any kind of
terrorism could not be justified.
Referring to the developments that took place in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Palestine and Lebanon, the statement indicated that activities and
initiatives aiming to ensure lasting peace and tranquility should
be supported.
“Turkish-Speaking Countries should work hard to boost cooperation
in the areas of economy, industry, agriculture, transportation,
communication and tourism,” the final statement underlined.
It said that Turkish-Speaking Countries should fully support activities
and initiatives that aimed to strengthen historic and cultural ties
among themselves.
Underlining the importance of Turkey`s EU accession process, the final
statement indicated that Turkey`s EU accession would contribute to
political, economic and social development in the region and strengthen
ties between the region and the EU.
It stressed that a comprehensive solution should be found to the
Cyprus issue under the roof of the UN, stating that heads of state
of Turkish-Speaking Countries assisted the UN`s initiatives in regard
to lifting of isolations imposed on Turkish Cypriot people.

ALIYEV SAYS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COOPERATION MUST BE IMPROVED AMONG TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Turkish Press
Nov 20 2006
ANTALYA – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Friday that
economic and political cooperation among the Turkish speaking countries
must be improved.
Speaking at the 8th Summit of Heads of State & Government of
Turkish-Speaking Countries in the southern Turkish city of Antalya,
Aliyev remembered that Turkey was the first country recognizing
independence of Azerbaijan.
“Economy of Azerbaijan develops rapidly. We have left economic
difficulties behind. Other Turkish-speaking states also overcame the
difficulties,” Aliyev added.
“World is changing. The incidents occurring in our region require
new relationships and cooperation,” he recalled.
“Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is a historic step. This will serve
economic development of the region. Inclusion of Kazakhstan to this
cooperation brings a new dynamism. Completion of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
natural gas pipeline means shipment of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey and
Europe,” Aliyev said.
Emphasizing that countries of the Caspian region have very rich natural
resources, Aliyev said, “these resources bring financial prosperity
to the region. The cooperation which was considered as a dream before,
is now realized.”
-ARMENIAN ISSUE-
Stating that there were problems that create uneasiness in Azerbaijan,
Aliyev said, “ongoing Armenian occupation on Azerbaijan`s territory
is the biggest problem of our country. This is also a problem of
the region. We favor resolution of the problem through peaceful
means. The problem must be solved in line with the principles
of the U.N.. European Organizations do not have any effect on
Armenia. Azerbaijan lost 20 percent of its territory in the ethnic
cleansing. More than 1 million people were made refugee in their
own country.”

PRESIDENT SEZER: WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Turkish Press
Nov 20 2006
ANTALYA – “We attach great importance to cooperation in the fight
against terrorism and the other threats that jeopardize development
of our region,” Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday.
Making the opening remarks of the 8th Summit of Heads of State &
Government of Turkish-Speaking Countries in the southern Turkish
city of Antalya, President Sezer said, “our countries have a sound
position in the international platform as the states that successfully
consolidate peace and stability in their region.”
“Our world has been living through a period of important changes.
Global changes also affect our region and countries. We need to pursue
long-term policies in this period without losing our own values,”
he said.
President Sezer noted, “our countries have the necessary will to
further improve their relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual
respect, equality and joint interests. Our relations have been based
on the principle of equality.”
Referring to economic and commercial relations, President Sezer said,
“we encourage our businessmen to speed up their investments in Turkic
republics. Also, we are pleased to see businessmen of those countries
investing in Turkey. On the other hand, Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline has been officially inaugurated as a result of our mutual
confidence, cooperation and determination. We are planning to open
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline by the end of this year.”
“One of the most prior targets of Turkish foreign policy is to make
Eurasia a geography of stability and cooperation. However, existing
problems obstruct regional stability and cooperation. Creation of an
atmosphere of peace, prosperity and cooperation in southern Caucasus
depends on finding a peaceful solution to the Upper Karabakh dispute
within the framework of Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity. We will
continue supporting Azerbaijan to this end,” he stressed.
President Sezer added, “besides international terrorism, fundamentalist
and separatist movements, illegal migration, illicit drugs and weapons
trafficking and the other organized crimes jeopardize development
of Eurasia. Turkey has suffered from terrorism for long years. Any
kind of terrorism cannot be justified. Therefore, we attach great
importance to cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the
other threats that jeopardize development of our region.”