Month: March 2007

RICE DEFENDS TURKEY AGAINST ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
March 22 2007

Rice said she was opposed to the US entering the debate at the
parliamentary level.

Guncelleme: 14:54 TSÝ 22 Mart 2007 PerþembeWASHINGTON – There is
a greater level of openness in Turkey with regard to debates over
allegations surrounding the Armenian issue, US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said late Wednesday.

Speaking before a committee of the US House of Representatives, Rice
said that the US had been working to encourage Turkey and Armenian
to discuss the issue.

"What we’ve encouraged the Turks and the Armenians to do is to have
joint historical commissions that can look at this, to have efforts
to examine their past, and in examining their past to get over it,"
Rice said.

Her comments came in response to questions from Democratic
Representative Adam Schiff, who has prepared a bill calling on the
US to formally recognise claims the Ottoman Empire committed an act
of genocide against its Armenian citizens during the First World War.

"I do not think it helps that process of reconciliation for the United
States to enter this debate at that level," she said.

–Boundary_(ID_5Wg2ygT3WjS0jHJ/PS55IQ)–

N.L. POURS MILLIONS INTO IMMIGRATION

CBC – Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
March 22 2007

Pastor Machado is an engineer who came to Newfoundland and Labrador
as a Colombian refugee with his wife and daughters. With a $6 million
plan announced on Wednesday, the province aims to keep them here.

Machado said there’s nowhere else he would rather be living right now,
but he needs help before he can find work in his profession.

"I want to stay here because this is a peaceful place. My family
is glad to be here," he said. He needs to work on his English and
possibly upgrade his technical skills.

"For people in our country, it is complicated to get training here,"
Machado said.

Aiming to change that, the provincial government announced on Wednesday
it would devote $6 million to attract more immigrants to the province.

Of the 250,000 immigrants who come to Canada each year, only about
150 of them settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador. The
government wants to triple that number.

Part of the plan includes extending the health coverage to
international students. Money will also go to enriching programs to
help immigrants upgrade their skills so they can work in the province.

Human Resources Minister Shawn Skinner said it’s important to attract
more people, or the province will suffer economically.

"People are what drive the demand for goods and services. Fewer people
can impact economic growth," Skinner said. "Through their work and
investment people generate the wealth needed to sustain our province."

Aida Icababian came to Newfoundland in 2005 with a teaching degree
from her native Armenia. She hopes to find work in her profession
once her English improves. She too, hopes to stay in the province.

"Government maybe will do something for us to stay here because we
have to work," She said.

The province expects to open the new immigration office in April.
From: Baghdasarian

AKHTAMAR’S SURB KHACH CHURCH HAS HAD A CROSS, AND THE CROSS – A PHOTOGRAPH
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007

After weeks of prolongation the opening of the reconstructed of
Surb Khach Church of the Akhtamar Isle was finally arranged on
March 29. According to latest information, numerous guests, among
them Culture Minister of Armenia Hasmik Poghosian, are invoted to
the ceremony.

Still, the reconstruction must be considered incomplete, as the
church bell and the cross have not been restored on their places. To
be reminded, Turkish authorities explained that fault by lack of
information about the cross, its look and design.

Meanwhile numerous photographs of the church, with brilliant view
of the cross, were published both in Armenian and Western press and
scientific works. Two of those photos "Azg" received from "Azdak"
newspaper director Shahan Gantaharian, Beirut, which proves the
inconsistence of the explanations of Turkish Culture Minister Koc
and expert Hazan.

But the problems about Akhtamar do not end up in the problem of the
cross. If not so, a group of Turkish Armenian intellectuals would have
no reason to address aforementioned Mr. Koc with request to consecrate
the church during the opening ceremony, to commit the consecration
to Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafian, to hand the church to the Patriarchy
and restore its original Armenian name "Akhtamar", which was altered
to Turkish Akdamar so as to mar the Armenian heritage.

Such request is not occasional. On March 9 "Vatan" newspaper, Turkey,
published an article by Mehmed Ozturk, to which the Patriarch responded
on March 19 by a publication in "Lraber". Ozturk’s article says:
"To whom shall be handed the church? To the Patriarchies of Lebanon
and Jerusalem or the Catholicosate of Armenia?" Such prevocational
questions need no comments. It is a background for new insinuations,
which can cast a shadow upon the festive ceremony of opening, organized
by the Government of Turkey.

ARMENIA AIMS AT KEY MARKETS WITH ITS PARTICIPATION AT GLOBE
Michael Verikios

Travel Daily News International, Greece
4&subcategory_id=098
March 22 2007

European countries, such as Italy, Spain, France, Germany and UK,
identified as key markets with a great potential for growth, are at
the centre of the promotional activities carried out by the Armenian
Tourist Development Agency (ATDA).

The Armenian tourist board is exhibiting with six major Armenian
tour companies at GLOBE, the new international trade show in Rome,
to promote the country in the Mediterranean and European areas.

Syuzanna Azoyan, ATDA’s marketing director, is presenting news and
promotional plans to press and trade operators at the Armenian stand
from Thurday 22nd to Saturday 24th March.

Armenia is getting growing attention by international media and tour
operators, who observe the country’s rebirth with great interest.

After the transition period which followed independence in 1991,
Armenia has made important investments in infrastructure and promotion
of the economic development. Tourism is one of the industries which
are getting major investments.

In fact, Armenia has it all to emerge as a new and important tourist
destination: safety, stableness, good structures, affordable prices,
geographic proximity, cultural affinity, good air connections,
impressive cultural heritage and artistic traditions, fantastic
natural environment and a welcoming population. American, French,
German, English and Japanese visitors already realized this and
represent the largest slice of Armenia’s travel market, thanks also
to effective commercials broadcasted on CNN and Euronews.

Armenia is offered mostly within religious and cultural tours focusing
on its great cultural and artistic heritage, the ancient sites on
the Silk Road, the original Christian architecture of the imposing
medieval buildings and UNESCO World Heritage sights, such as the
monastic complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat.

According to Syuzanna Azoyan, Armenia has much more to offer: adventure
and trekking holidays, nature and sport holidays, bird-watching,
camping, farm holidays, cycling tours, horse-riding, rafting and many
other activities.

TURKEY FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMITTING GENOCIDE BY "THE WORLD ALMANAC"
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007

"The World Almanac and Book of Facts" included Turkey among states
responsible for having perpetrated a genocide. The publication marks
the events of 1915 as genocide and states that about one million
Armenians were massacred. The article was placed in the part entitled
"Crime and Terrorism, Genocide".

RA PRESIDENT: ARMENIA INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 22 2007

Armenian-Israeli relations were discussed in the course of RA President
Robert Kocharian’s meeting with newly established Ambassador of Israel
to RA Ehud Gol. At the meeting the Israel’s Ambassador presented
credentials to Armenian President.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA President’s
Press Office, Robert Kocharian had noted Armenia was interested
in efficient cooperation with Israel and expressed hope that the
Ambassador would actively participate in performing the mission.

In his turn Ehud Gol stated there was a lot to do to develop bilateral
relations. The Ambassador noted the Armenian and Jewish nations had a
lot in common, which was a good ground for the relations’ development.

In the course of the meeting the parties exchanged views over a number
of regional issues.

NAGORNO-KARABAGH TO BE REPRESENTED AT GLOBE-2007 INTERNATIONAL TOURIST EXHIBITION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 22 2007

March 22-25 GLOB-2007 international tourist exhibition will be held
in Rome. The tourist operators from RA will also participate in
the measure.

Nagorno-Karabagh will be represented at the exhibition as
well, however, not by a separate pavilion, but via Armenian
tourist operators, Director of the Agency for the Development of
Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Tourism Sergey Shahverdian told DE FACTO
agency today. In his words, a lot of tourists display great interest to
visiting Nagorno-Karabagh, so in this connection RA tourist companies
include the NKR in the program of visits to Caucasus.

Sergey Shahverdian stated the prospects on the Nagorno-Karabagh were
in some demand of the foreign tourists.

DOES NOT HALACOGLU KNOW WHERE PATRIARCHY’S ARCHIVES ARE?
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007

Mutafian Patriarch Responds to Halacoglu’s Offences

The more April 24 draws near, the more irritable become the advocates
of Turkey’s policy of Armenian Genocide denial. The progress of
the Genocide’s world recognition process is driving them mad and,
in order to save their positions, in for lies and slander.

^_The most outstanding persons of the advocates of Armenian Genocide
denial is prof. Yusuf Halacoglu, President of the Turkish Historical
Society. As his first step was to lie so as to invite Armenian
scientists to cooperation, the second was to slander them, as lies
are always unveiled – sooner or later.

Ara Safarian, director of "Komitas" institute was the Armenian
scientist who responded to Halacoglu’s invitation. When he refused to
cooperate with the Turkish historians because the Ottoman articles were
"cleaned" of documents witnessing the Armenian Genocide, Halacoglu
started accusing him of "making a show". "If the necessary documents
are missing from eth Ottoman archive, they can be found in the archive
of the patriarchy. We can work there together. Why are they afraid
of opening the Patriarchy’s archives?" added Halacoglu.

To this the Patriarch responded on March 19: "I was surprised by
Halacoglu’s words about the archives of the Patriarchy. I am sure he
knows well the decision of Turkish Government of August 10, 1916,
to unite the patriarchies of Constantinople, Akhtamar and Sis with
the center in Jerusalem. Does not he know where our patriarchy’s
archives are?"

Thus came out that the Patriarch of Constantinople is by no means
involved in lies or concealing historical fatcs, and that accusations
of Halacoglu are nothing by slander.

ALROSA RUMORED TO BE INTERESTED IN BUYING ARMENIAN GOLD PRODUCER

Tacy, Israel
March 22 2007

Russian diamond producer Alrosa, or its investment arm IG Alrosa, are
interested in buying Ararat Gold Recovery Company (AGRC) in Armenia,
says a gold spokesman. A Russian specialist has visited Armenia to
examine the state of affairs at AGRC.

The Armenian Environmental Protection Ministry, following a recent
inspection, has accused AGRC of violating environmental standards and
of concealing 1.6 tons of gold. Officials from the Tax Inspectorate
and Prosecutor’s Office are also reportedly inspecting the company’s
paperwork.

AGRC is owned by Sterlite Gold Ltd, which in turn is 55 percent
owned by India’s Vedanta Resources. The Zod gold deposit, where AGRC
operates, contains an estimated 80 tons of 2.6 million ounces of gold.

EXPLOITING DEAD ARMENIANS

Strategy Page
March 22 2007

March 18, 2007: The US State Department warned the US Congress that
a pending resolution on the "Armenian genocide" issue could harm
US-Turkish relations. Many Armenians claim Ottoman Turkey committed
genocide against Armenians in 1915. The State Department warning had
a definite defense angle: the State Department said that Turkey could
deny the US military use of the vital Incirlik Air Base (in southern
Turkey) if the U.S. pushes the genocide issue. Incirlik is a huge
"NATO base complex." It supports operations in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and throughout Central Asia. Turkey might also deny the US military
overflight privileges. A number of US legislators support the bill,
which is seen as an attempt by the Democrats to undercut the Iraqi
war effort by cutting off Turkish support. .

[parts omitted]
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