Month: April 2007

INTL JOURNALISTS GROUP CONDEMNS EXTREME-RIGHTIST TIT

The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 2 2007

The international journalist group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF),
over the weekend wrote out a bitter statement on Turkey condemning the
death threats made against a radio broadcaster while several Turkish
intellectuals offered solidarity with the radio against threats by
a mysterious extreme right group.

The employees of Istanbul-based Ozgur Radyo received death threats late
on Friday from the Turkish Vengeance Brigade (TIT), an establishment
gained considerable reputation due to its self-proclaimed war against
Kurdish people, in the form of an email.

The RSF also called on the government to take the safety of journalists
more seriously. "In the light of previous tragic events in Turkey,
especially the murder of newspaper editor Hrant Dink, it is vital
that the authorities take measures to protect Ôzgur Radyo’s staff,"
the organisation said on Saturday.

"Stop broadcasting separatist programmes," the email reportedly said.

"We are watching you and we know where your homes are. This message
is our last warning. The Turk has reawakened and the Turk’s rage
will annihilate those who aim to divide the motherland. If you do not
stop betraying Turkey, your end will be the same as the others. Your
destiny will be the same as that of the other traitors."

The TIT made threats against the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos the day
after Dink, its editor, was gunned down outside its offices. The group
was responsible for the May 1998 attack on Akin Birdal, the former
head of the Human Rights Association (IHD), and for death threats
against lawyer Eren Keskin and singer Ferhat Tunc.

A TIT member, Semih Tufan Gunaltay, received a 19-year prison sentence
from an Ankara assizes court in 1999 for the attempted murder of
Birdal, who was shot eight times but survived. After serving four and a
half years of the sentence, Gunaltay was released under an amnesty law.

Five journalists were give police protection on the orders of Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after Dink’s murder. They are Etyen
Mahcupyan (Agos’ new managing editor and a columnist for the daily
Zaman), Ahmet Hakan Coskun (Hurriyet), Soli Ozel (Sabah), Fehmi Koru
(Yeni Safak) and Ismet Berkan, the managing editor of the daily
Radikal.

Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk and fellow author Elif Safak,
who was acquitted on a charge of "insulting national identity" in his
novel "The Bastard of Istanbul," have also been placed under police
protection. But threats have continued to me made against academics,
editors and reporters, some of who are still without protection.

–Boundary_(ID_VQyxuIuVX8JecSASzH3lUQ )–

TURKISH HISTORIAN CLEARED OF CHARGES FOR DECLARING ‘GENOCIDE’

The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 2 2007

An Istanbul court decided late in January not to pursue charges against
a Turkish historian for declaring a "genocide" of Armenians had been
committed during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, daily Radikal
revealed over the weekend.

In an article in Agos, a Turkish-Armenian weekly, historian Taner
Akcam had written, "The 1915-1917 deportations and massacres of
Armenians constituted a genocide."

The complaint against Akcam was filed by Recep Akkus at the
prosecutor’s office of Istanbul’s Eyup district. The charges against
Akcam were under controversial Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301
for insulting Turkishness, as well as various other articles for
instigating a crime, praising a crime and criminals, and instigating
public animosity and hatred.

The prosecutor’s office said that such writing about an alleged
genocide is covered by freedom of speech and thus it is not "insulting
Turkishness." The Jan. 30 decision came just 12 days the assassination
of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, Agos’ editor in chief. Dink,
too, had been facing charges for insulting Turkishness when he was
murdered.

Radikal noted that the prosecutor of Istanbul’s Sisli district filed
a case against Dink after remarks in which he said, "Of course I say
this is a genocide."

In another article titled "Hrant Dink, 301 and a criminal complaint,"
Akcam wrote, "I believe the 1915-1917 deportations and massacres
of Armenians constituted a genocide. I reiterate this at every
opportunity. I have written books, articles and even columns on this
issue. If describing this as genocide is a crime, I commit this crime
nearly every week."

Akcam’s lawyer Erdal Dogan also underlined that the decision is late
but important within the framework of freedom of speech.

Speaking to bianet, Dogan said "I wish our prosecutors had made
similar decisions before Dink was murdered. It’s sad that justice
was remembered after the assassination of Dink."

Article 301 is a controversial article of the penal code which took
taking effect in June 2005, introduced as part of a package of penal
law reform in the process preceding the opening of negotiations for
Turkey’s European Union membership, in order to bring Turkey up to
EU standards. It makes it a crime to insult "Turkishness." Since this
article became law, charges have been brought in more than 60 cases,
some of which are high profile.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE "SHADOW GOVERNMENT"

The "Shadow Government" of Lebanese university students and university
graduates visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias on March 31.

The group bearing this symbolic name was envisaged by former Member of
Parliament, the martyr Jebran Tueini and formed after his assassination. The
group driven by their high sense of responsibility as Lebanese citizens,
have decided to contribute to the difficult task of ending the conflict in
Lebanon.

The role of the "Shadow Government" is to meet with the leaders of all the
Lebanese communities and the country’s political leaders, inviting them to
carry out their jobs in running the country responsibly.

The Armenian Pontiff highly praised this initiative by the Lebanese youth.
Speaking about the situation in Lebanon, His Holiness said: "The prevailing
duality in Lebanon is unacceptable and harmful for the country. This
situation can not go on, however, the people are unfortunately not
demonstrating the necessary awareness. It is therefore, the role of the
youth to call on political leaders to assume their responsibility."

His Holiness highlighted the important role of Lebanon, particularly in
the Middle East and stressed the importance of preserving its unity and
uniqueness. "Lebanon is a country based on values and principles. Foreign
forces are disturbing Lebanon’s internal stability and unity. Cooperation
with others does not mean subjugation, does not mean loyalty," he said.

The Armenian Catholicos then called on the Lebanese people to think
independently and said: "Lebanon should hold on strong to its independence
and unity. Differences in viewpoints should not divide the Lebanese or
position them against each other. The concepts of majority and minority in
Lebanon should not be abused and transformed into a dividing factor. We
should find means of expressing, in tangible ways, the internal unity of the
Lebanese people."

##
View the photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Primate will visit the Armenian Embassy in Ottawa

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 10:37

On Tuesday, April 3, 2007, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will
visit the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa to convey the
condolences of the Diocese of the Armenian Church. The clergy and
parish council members of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Cathedral and Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval will accompany His
Eminence, Press Office of the Armenian Church of Canada informs.

On behalf of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Canada, Bishop
Galstanian sent a letter of condolences to the Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia in Ottawa, to mourn the sudden death of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian. His Eminence praised the role of the late Prime
Minister in strengthening our statehood. He also noted that we are
grateful for the labors and contributions of the late Prime Minister
and his work in the area of reinforcing the relationship between
Church and state, to make it more effective and productive.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly Executive Director testifies before Congress

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 12:28

Testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations Appropriations and Related Programs, which decides
assistance levels to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny urged the Subcommittee to continue funding for
Armenia at `not less than’ $75 million and to allocate $10 million for
Nagorno Karabakh.

`It is essential that significant assistance to Armenia be maintained
in the face of the fourteen-year blockades by its neighbors, Turkey
and Azerbaijan,’ said Ardouny, and also noted the `compelling
humanitarian and development needs’ in Karabakh. `We also urge the
Subcommittee to institute new report language requiring a full
accounting of the steps the U.S. has taken and the responses therein
to eliminate these blockades,’ he continued.

With respect to regional cooperation, Ardouny stressed that `ongoing
attempts to isolate Armenia, such as the Azeri-proposed rail bypass of
Armenia, run counter to U.S. policy goals,’ and urged the
Subcommittee to build upon legislation (H.R. 3361) introduced last
Congress by Subcommittee Member and Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) to combat such attempts and look for opportunities
to promote regional cooperation. `For example, funding should be made
available to provide for minor repairs needed to open the existing
Kars-Gyumri rail link between Turkey and Armenia.’

Ardouny also expressed the Armenian Assembly’s extreme concern with
the ` inclusion of counterproductive language’ in State Department
reports and noted that language `labeling Armenia as an occupier is
not only patently false, but also directly contradicts the U.S. role
as a mediator and undermines’ U.S. credibility. Ardouny’s testimony
urged that it be `corrected post haste.’

While noting that the Armenian Assembly supports the purpose of the
Millennium Challenge Act (MCA) to improve democracy and good
governance in Armenia, Ardouny shared the concerns raised by many
Members of the Subcommittee, including Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY),
that MCA funds `should not be used as a substitute’ for other funding
priorities. Specifically, it should not be used as a justification to
cut the Freedom Support Act (FSA), which provides critically important
assistance programs to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Ardouny drew attention to Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric, `despite
U.S. demands to cease such provocative actions,’ and called on the
Subcommittee to carefully monitor U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan `to
ensure that the principle of military and security parity’ envisioned
with the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
`is maintained throughout all funding areas.’ Further, should Baku
continue its anti-Armenian rhetoric, Ardouny urged the Subcommittee
`to suspend the waiver authority it granted and reinstate Section 907′
of the Freedom Support Act.

Ardouny also underscored the importance of Armenia’s energy security
and ` urged the Subcommittee to utilize the tools at its disposal to
pave the way for Armenia’s full inclusion in, and contribution to,
existing and future energy and development projects.’

Armenia the 4th best chess country

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 13:31

Armenia, having 60 Grand Masters and World Chess Masters occupies the
4th place in the last list of best chess countries of the world issued
by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Russia is the first with
2 720 points (has 1 694 Grand Masters and World Masters). Ukraine is
the 3rd with 2 664 points, the US comes third with 2 629
points. Hungary is the 5th with 2 624 points.

Sergey Lavrov to arrive in Yerevan tomorrow

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 13:41

On April 3 the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov will arrive in
Yerevan on an official visit.

Meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II and Acting Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian are
envisaged in the framework of the visit.

During the stay in Armenian the Russian delegation will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

On April 4 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit the
Yerevan State University, where he is expected to deliver a speech.

Seeds of Turkish nationalism sown at school

2 April 2007 | 10:22 | Source: Reuters

ISTANBUL — Nationalism poses problem with Turkey schools,which,
within IMF-imposed budget restraints spends little on education.

"Happy is he who says he is a Turk," pipe hundreds of uniformed
children in unison, lined up in the playground before a golden statue
of Turkey’s revered father Ataturk, for a daily pledge of hard work
and sacrifice.

The enthusiastic chanting ends and the children file into school, past
an inscription saying their first duty is to defend Turkey and another
of the national anthem — texts which appear again on the classroom
walls and preface all their textbooks.

When they move up to high school, they will take a weekly class from
army officers about the military’s exploits. Their school books will
tell them European powers have their sights set on Anatolia and
Turkey’s geography makes it vulnerable "to all kinds of internal and
external threats".

Textbooks are peppered with the sayings of Kemal Ataturk, who founded
modern Turkey in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
"Homeland … we are all a sacrifice for you!" comes particularly
recommended by one textbook’s authors.

These are just some of the features of Turkey’s education system that
reformist teachers and activists want changed. They say it encourages
blind nationalism — something Turkey is looking at more seriously
since the ultranationalist-inspired murder in January of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Political rows with the European Union, which Ankara hopes to join,
have also fanned nationalism — especially in an election year — but
many experts say the seeds are first sown at school.

"In newly founded nation states like ours education is an effective
political lever to train and transform people … but in recent
decades this concept, which needs to be loosened, continues," Ziya
Selcuk, university professor and former head of the government’s
Training and Education Board, told Reuters.

This government has reformed the curriculum in a way teachers say
makes students more active and reduces traditional rote learning, but
the emphasis on nationalism remains.

"There’s still some emphasis on militarism, the importance of being
martyred, the importance of going to war, dying in war and so on,"
said Batuhan Aydagul, deputy coordinator of the Education Reform
Initiative.

Teachers also say they feel pressure not to stray from the official
line or curriculum in class.

"If you present some arguments which are the opposite of the
established arguments … you might get reaction, absolutely, from
students, from other teachers, from directors — negative reactions of
course," said one teacher who declined to be named.

His colleague, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, laughed at
the idea of criticizing Ataturk in a history lesson, saying to do so
would spark investigation by prosecutors.

"They think … if you do such a thing you confuse their minds and
confusion is not good for young people," the first teacher said.

But the textbooks could be confusing for some: while foreign
historians say Ottoman forces massacred Armenians in 1915, high school
history books here say it was the other way around.

"It must not be forgotten that in eastern Anatolia the Armenians
carried out genocide," one 2005-dated book reads.

In its latest progress report the EU also criticized the portrayal of
minorities such as Armenians, saying further work was needed to remove
discriminatory language from textbooks.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
April 2, 2007

Holy Week in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Every year the Mother See receives numerous inquiries from pilgrims
throughout the world who plan to travel to Armenia and Holy Etchmiadzin to
participate in the services leading up to the Glorious Resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ.  In response to the growing number of requests, the
Mother See is pleased to announce this year’s schedule of Holy Week and
Easter Services.  All services will be held in the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
COMMEMORATION OF THE TEN VIRGINS
Evening Services – 5:30 PM

Thursday, April 5, 2007
HOLY THURSDAY
Divine Liturgy – 10:30 AM
Washing of the Feet Service – 4:00 PM
Offered by His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians
Betrayal Service – 7:00 PM

Friday, April 6, 2007
HOLY FRIDAY
Crucifixion Service – 12:00 Noon
Burial Service – 5:30 PM

Saturday, April 7, 2007
EASTER EVE
Evening Services – 5:30 PM
`Jrakaluyts’ (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy – 7:00 PM

Sunday, April 8, 2007
FEAST OF THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Morning Services – 7:30 AM
Pontifical Divine Liturgy – 10:30 AM
Celebrant – His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians

Monday, April 9, 2007
MEMORIAL DAY
Divine Liturgy – 11:00 AM
Repose of Souls Service – 1:00 PM

Hilda Tchoboyan: Turkey’s policy towards Christian minorities unchanged over
200 years
Editorial

Yerkir.am
April 01, 2007

Following Armenian National Committee of America the European Armenian
Federation (EAFJD) is considered as one of the most influential
lobbying Armenian organizations. The `Hay Dat’ European Committee
struggles not only for Armenian Genocide recognition, but also for
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict proceeding from the right
of NKR people to self-determination. EAFJD Chairman Hilda Tchoboyan
answers the questions of PanARMENIAN.Net.

Judging from media Turkey activated his struggle against recognition
of the Armenian Genocide not only in the United States, but also in
Europe. What does Turkey fear so much? The problem of recognizing the
Armenian Genocide is within Turkey himself, in the Turkish society. If
this country recognizes the Armenian Genocide it will cease to exist
as a state. The whole world will look at Turkey as a state, which
committed a genocide and which is a threat for neighboring countries
and first of all for Armenia. Much is talked about that the current
Turkish authorities are not responsible for what happened at the
beginning of the 20th century, that the Armenian Genocide must be left
for historians to discuss. But it is a wrong viewpoint. The `Hay Dat’
Committees are sure that modern Turkey is the successor of the Ottoman
Empire since the closest circle of republic’s founder Kemal
Atatürk were those who are guilty in extermination of the
Armenian nation. And exactly for this Turkey is responsible for the
Genocide. In fact, Turkey’s policy towards national minorities is
unchangeable over 200 years.

Can the `Hay Dat’ European Office influence on recognition of the
Armenian Genocide in all European countries, particularly in Germany?
As you know, exactly Germany is the initiator of adopting a bill on
criminal punishment for denying all genocides, but there is no mention
in the document about the Armenian Genocide. We are going to insist on
the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in it. The European Committee
actively cooperates in this issue, we have 12 committees, where
representatives of various nationalities are included and our goal is
recognition and prevention of genocides. I’ll underline that in this
case the problem is not with Germany, which is for adoption of this
law, but in the general mood in EU countries. Hearings are scheduled
for May 19 in the European Parliament, and if the bill is approved it
will mean that it is compulsory for all EU member-states after
bringing it in accordance with national legislation of every
country. The `Hay Dat’ Committees must carry out a work aimed at
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by parliaments of various
countries. If it happens, as a result the Armenian Genocide will be
recognized by the international community. The Armenian Genocide was
the first in the 20th century but for some reasons the attention of
the world community is concentrated on the Holocaust¦ Not the world
community, but Jews themselves are sure in it. They consider
themselves as a nation chosen by God and state that nobody but
themselves has undergone extermination. It is an ultimately wrong
introduction of problem. Jewish communities of Europe have begun to
approach to this understanding. They excellently realize that if an
estimation was given to the Armenian Genocide in due time, the
Holocaust may happen, but not in such scales.

It is considered that the `Hay Dat’ Committees are busy only with the
Armenian Genocide issue. Is it so? `Hay Dat’ is busy with
pan-Armenian national problems, among which the problem of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict occupies a particular place. If you remember, some
years ago reports of the Council of Europe (CoE) on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict were ultimately one-sided, the Azeri viewpoint
prevailed there. By the efforts of the European Office, particularly
works in the CoE structures we could reach our goal and now reports
carry more balanced character. Particularly, earlier they used to
talk only about Azeri refugees. After our statements and explanations
reports began to include also situation with Armenian refugees from
Azerbaijan and occupied districts of Nagorno Karabakh. We think that
we must speak about everyone. And the fact that Baku holds his
refugees in tent villages for more than 15 years does not do him
credits.

How did the Diaspora reacted to the Dual citizenship law? The
Diaspora waited for the law of Dual Citizenship in Armenia a long
time. When Armenia’s independence was declared a lot of us hoped that
the Armenia government will recognize us as his own
citizens. Unfortunately it did not happen. The Diaspora was very
upset. And now we got moral satisfaction, we have a motherland where
we can come and do everything possible for her prosperity. It is
natural the fear of `local’ citizens of the RA that the Diaspora will
take the power into its hands, elect the president and so on. We are
not going to do that, the law clearly indicates our rights and
obligations. I consider the adoption of this law as very important,
even if it is a bit belated step.