Month: October 2008

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUST BE RECOGNIZED, FORMER FRENCH PM DECLARED

armradio.am
25.10.2008 14:23

Always fervent supporter of Turkey’s entry to the European Union,
former French Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, declared, on October 24,
to the "Grand Journal" on French network TV Canal+, that Europe needed
Turkey and the Soviet ex-Republics, in particular for energy reasons,
independent correspondent Jean Eckian informed.

Mr. Rocard indicated, however, that "it will be necessary that
Turkey regulates the Cyprus issue and recognizes the Armenian
Genocide." "Turkey knows," he said.

A ROUND TABLE ON SITUATION IN THE REGION HELD IN STEPANAKERT

ArmInfo
2008-10-24 19:05:00

ArmInfo. On the initiative of the Armenian branch of the London-based
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a round table was held in
Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, under the "Karabakh Conversations"
program.

Public figures, politicians, intellectuals and representatives of
the non- governmental sector attended the round table.

As ArmInfo own correspondent in Stepanakert reports, Chairman of
the European Integration NGO Karen Bekaryan came out with a report
"New realias in the South Caucasus, the current state of Armenian-
Turkish relations, prospects of regional cooperation and Karabakh
peace process". He dwelled on the situation in the region after the
war in South Ossetia, the Karabakh peace process in the context of
new realias, possibilities of civil initiatives, etc. In particular,
he pointed out that the Armenian society lacks consolidation of
national conscience, and the society is a passive observer, it
doesn’t react to the ongoing events. He added that the main thing
is to avoid processes endangering Karabakh’s security. "The security
of Nagorno-Karabakh is Armenia’s security", Karen Bekaryan said and
added that being independent, Armenia failed to settle the Karabakh
conflict though it managed to maintain the status quo. Bekaryan also
noted that he doesn’t wish Nagorno-Karabakh to gain independence the
way Abkhazia and South Ossetia did. According to him, now that the
USA is holding election Russia is trying to take over the initiative
in the South Caucasus region.

The participants in the round table noted that different power branches
and public of Nagorno-Karabakh should express its viewpoints more
actively, particularly, on Madrid principles, and determine its tasks
and place in modern world. "Karabakh Conversations" program will also
be carried out in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

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: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA BUYS A NEW ADJOINING LAND

The Catholicosate of Cilicia has recently bought the piece of land
immediately adjacent to the Catholicosate in Antelias. The newly purchased
land is in the northeast of the Catholicosate, bordering the Catholicosate’s
outside wall. It will expand the area where the Zarehian Mausoleum and the
Bishops’ building are located.

##
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.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

========================================== ======
22 October 2008
BELARUS: WHY WAS PROTESTANT BISHOP DEPORTED?
le_id=1207
The Ukrainian founder of one of the largest charismatic churches in the
Belarusian capital Minsk was deported on 16 October due to his religious
activity, he has suggested to Forum 18 News Service. If so, Veniamin Brukh
– a bishop in the Full Gospel Church – will be the 22nd foreigner barred
from Belarus for religious activity since 2004. Previous cases have
involved both Protestants and Catholics. Under the restrictive Religion
Law, foreigners require special state permission – on top of a valid entry
visa – to perform a leading role in a religious community. Only registered
religious umbrella associations have the right to invite foreigners to
conduct religious activity. Even if the state’s highest religious affairs
official decides that religious work by a foreigner is necessary, stringent
controls still apply to that person’s activities. Asked for the reasons for
Bishop Brukh’s deportation, a KGB secret police spokesman told Forum 18
that "The person who is supposed to know knows. I’m not supposed to know."
The KGB closely monitors religious communities’ activity.

24 October 2008
RUSSIA: POLICE SEARCH PUBLISHER OF CONTROVERSIALLY BANNED ISLAMIC BOOK
=1209
The Moscow-based publisher of "The Personality of a Muslim" by Arab
theologian Muhammad ali Al-Hashimi, placed in December 2007 on the list of
banned extremist literature, is now facing criminal prosecution. Aslambek
Ezhayev told Forum 18 News Service the Economic Crimes Police searched the
publishing department offices at Moscow’s Islamic University for six hours
on 8 October. "But it was clear from the beginning that they weren’t really
looking for anything financial." Computers and books were seized. The
accounts were then deemed in order, but the materials passed to the
Prosecutor’s Office for the criminal case. The Prosecutor’s Office refused
to talk to Forum 18. Ezhayev complains of the way books are put on the
banned list by local courts without the possibility of challenging their
verdicts: "a book can’t defend itself". Andrei Sebentsov, vice-chair of the
government’s Commission for Issues Concerning Religious Associations, told
Forum 18 federal officials cannot act: "The executive cannot interfere with
the judiciary." Fighting two separate attempts to ban their literature, the
Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the latest targets of the widening religious
extremism allegations.

23 October 2008
UZBEKISTAN: SEVEN PROTESTANTS IN SELF-FINANCED DETENTION, IMAM SENTENCED
le_id=1208
Seven members of a Tashkent-based Pentecostal church are due to complete
15-day prison sentences on 25 October, imposed to punish them for attending
a prayer gathering in a private home, Protestants told Forum 18 News
Service. The seven have to pay for their own detention. Five other church
members were fined. The judge refused to tell Forum 18 why the twelve had
been punished for peaceful religious activity and why she had ordered
Bibles and other Christian literature confiscated from them to be
destroyed. Meanwhile, the judge who sentenced Abdurakhmon-eshon, the imam
of the Sulton Uways-bobo mosque in Beruni District of Karakalpakstan, for
embezzlement refused to tell Forum 18 what punishment he had handed down.
However, he said the imam is appealing to Karakalpakstan’s Supreme Court.
It remains unclear whether he and other arrested imams in Karakalpakstan
are innocent or guilty of the accusations. No officials have been prepared
to discuss the other reported arrests of Muslims.

21 October 2008
TURKEY: TURKISH NATIONALISM, ERGENEKON, AND DENIAL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
_id=1206
A trial has begun in Turkey of influential people alleged to be part of an
ultra-nationalist group, Ergenekon. Otmar Oehring of the German Catholic
charity Missio
< lturen/themen/menschenrechte>
notes, in a commentary for Forum 18 News Service <;,
that opposition to religious freedom is widespread. Ergenekon members are
alleged to have maintained deathlists of people, including Christians with
a missionary background. The Malatya murder trial is revealing plausible
links between Ergenekon, the "deep state" and the murders. But local
officials – who are almost certainly not in an Ergenekon-type group – are
also hostile to religious freedom. The Ergenekon case is part of a
power-struggle between the "deep state" and the AKP government, but it is
unclear whether the current trials will advance freedom of religion and
belief. Given the threats to the day-to-day security and religious freedom
of non-nationalist Turks, whether the government effectively addresses the
roots of these threats will be crucial.
* See full article below. *

21 October 2008
TURKEY: TURKISH NATIONALISM, ERGENEKON, AND DENIAL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

e_id=1206
By Dr. Otmar Oehring, Head of the Human Rights Office of Missio
<;

A court case in Turkey has pointed to the existence of a secretive
underground ultra-nationalist organisation Ergenekon, though this might
merely be another name for the "deep state". The trial began near Istanbul
on 20 October of 86 alleged members – from the police, army, business,
politics and the mass media – on charges that they were plotting to
overthrow the current Justice and Development Party (AKP) government by
2009.

The "deep state" is the term used in Turkey for nationalist circles in the
army, police, National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) secret police and
state administration, which regard themselves as the custodians of the
secularist legacy of the Republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (see
F18News 28 June 2007 < 983>).
The MIT closely monitors religious minorities, and some MIT officers do
indeed believe in protecting religious minorities. But other MIT officers
are staunch nationalists and fully part of the "deep state" (see F18News 10
July 2007 < 990>).

Opposition to religious freedom is widespread among the "deep state" and
wider sections of political life and the general public. This hostility has
resulted in deaths and violent attacks, and has not been effectively
addressed by the government (see F18News 15 April 2008
< e_id=1115>).

The anti-religious minority views of ultra-nationalist circles and the
"deep state" were no secret, especially to the religious minorities
themselves. But reports in the Turkish media about Ergenekon have, perhaps
for the first time, given the wider Turkish public the details of the
conspiracies. Many Turkish analysts think that the allegations made so far
will turn out to be true.

Members of Ergenekon are alleged to have maintained lists of people –
including Christians with a missionary background – targeted for killing.
The involvement of Ergenekon has been alleged in the murders of Catholic
priest Fr Andrea Santoro in Trabzon in February 2006 and three Protestants
– Necati Aydin, Tillman Geske and Ugur Yüksel – in Malatya in April 2007.
The MIT secret police is known to have maintained observation of the places
where all four of these Christians were killed (see F18News 10 July 2007
< e_id=990>).

The trial of those accused of the Malatya murders is revealing that there
may be links between Ergenekon, the "deep state" and the murders. As
Christian news service Compass Direct reported on 21 October
(< ay.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&i delement=5658&backpage=summaries&critere=& amp;countryname=&rowcur=>),
the lawyer Orhan Kemal Cengiz, who leads the legal team representing the
victims’ families, states that there is a "very dark, complex,
sophisticated web of relations behind the scenes."

Indeed, the Ergenekon people not only seem to be the masterminds of the
Santoro and Malatya murders (and of the murder of ethnic Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink), they even had a plan to kill the Ecumenical
Patriarch – or at least to incite his murder in a way that could not be
traced back to them.

Among those arrested in the investigation against Ergenekon was
ultranationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz. As well as filing complaints
against numerous writers for "insulting Turkishness" under the notorious
Article 301 of the Penal Code, he also brought a high-profile case of
"insulting Islam" under the same Article against Hakan Tastan and Turan
Topal, Turks who joined a Protestant church.

Even the so-called Turkish Orthodox Church – which has almost no followers
and was apparently designed by its founders as an irritant to the Greek
Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate – is revealed to have been closely linked
with such circles. This "church" has been publicly supportive of
Kerincsiz’s claims that Turkish Christians "insult Turkishness". Ergenekon
is said to have used "Turkish Orthodox Church" buildings, and to be closely
liked with those who run this "church".

Ergenekon-style nationalists are certain that almost everyone is against
the Turks and Turkishness. Particular enemies of Turkey are thought by
these circles to be all of Turkey’s ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds
(some of whom are Alevi Muslims), as well as non-Muslim minorities. These
views have long been widespread even outside Ergenekon-type circles (see
F18News 29 November 2007
< e_id=1053>).

Ergenekon-type circles collected information on groups within these
populations – it helped that they had close ties to authorities with access
to the personal data registry which records individuals’ ethnic and
religious affiliation. It is not known if Ergenekon itself – if it existed
in the form that is claimed – sent spies into religious minority
communities.

However, all religious minorities – especially Christians – have long had
unknown people visiting their services. Sometimes these visitors say they
are there from the MIT secret police to "protect" them, though more often
they refuse to explain who they are (see F18News 26 July 2006
< e_id=817>).

Religious minorities doubt whether the police or MIT secret police would
really attend their places of worship to protect them: they are more likely
to believe they are there to listen, watch and take notes. Even this year
in 2008, believers leaving services are asked who they are and why they
have attended. The authorities want to know whether those attending
Christian churches are foreigners, local "foreigners" or possible converts.
Ergenekon could have played a part in such enquiries.

Many religious leaders have long been under surveillance by the MIT secret
police. "Walls have ears," is the constant refrain in religious minority
headquarters. Particularly close tabs were kept on Armenian Patriarch
Mesrop Mutafyan, who had two "bodyguards" from the secret police with him
constantly.

Again it remains unclear if this surveillance is to protect them or to
keep tabs on all their activity. That a grenade could have been thrown into
Patriarch Bartholomew’s office from a small street outside the Ecumenical
Patriarchate in Istanbul’s Fener district – which is under full and very
visible police surveillance – shows that any "protection" is at best
ineffectual. Those charged with protecting religious leaders have not
managed to stop threats against them.

Religious minority leaders live with threats constantly, whether through
the media or directly. Patriarch Mesrop would receive about 300 emailed
threats each day – whether from one individual or many is unknown. Unknown
people watch religious minority buildings, making sure they are seen and
noticed by the religious minorities.

Perhaps the biggest impact so far of this constant atmosphere of threats
is on the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate, Turkey’s biggest Christian
denomination. Mesrop Mutafyan, who was elected Patriarch in 1998 against
the express wishes of the Turkish authorities, has been forced to retreat
into health-related seclusion. Many believe the severe health problems he
is suffering – which have affected him both physically and mentally – are
akin to post-traumatic stress disorder. They believe these have been
brought on by years of pressure from the media, the public and from the
Armenian diaspora, some of which has dubbed him a traitor. As well as
opposing his original election, the Turkish authorities also made trouble
for him over the restoration of the Patriarchate several years ago.

Should Patriarch Mesrop not recover and be in a position to take up his
functions again, this could threaten the future of the Armenian Church in
Turkey. The Turkish authorities are likely to insist – as they have done up
to now – that the head of the Armenian (as well as the Greek Orthodox)
Patriarchate must be a Turkish citizen resident in Turkey. The Armenian
Church may struggle to find a candidate with the diplomatic and linguistic
skills and the international experience for such a crucial role in such a
delicate and exposed position. This problem is of importance not just for
the Church but for the Armenian community as a whole.

However, it is clear that Ergenekon and the "deep state" are not the only
obstacle for freedom of religion or belief. Local officials – who are
almost certainly not in an Ergenekon-type organisation – continue to
obstruct the work of non-Muslim communities. This can clearly be seen when
it comes to property disputes.

Roman Catholics, for example, face several difficult property battles,
most notably in the southern coastal city of Mersin, where they have a
large compound which they have used since Ottoman times. The only document
the Catholics have confirming their ownership is a firman (decree) issued
by the Ottoman sultan, which the local authorities do not consider is
valid. Successive court cases brought by the local authorities in the 1980s
finally reached Turkey’s Supreme Court in Ankara in the 1990s, which ruled
in favour of the Catholics.

Such ownership problems are faced by all the minorities, despite their
widely differing legal status. As is the case with all non-Muslim minority
groups, Catholics do not legally exist. Furthermore, as their properties
are not organised as "community foundations", their properties have no
legal personality on their own. And as the Catholics do not legally exist,
the government at times argues that they therefore also cannot have
property. This shows that despite government claims, these property
problems have not been resolved by the latest Foundations Law (see F18News
13 March 2008 < 1100>).

In the case of the Catholics of Mersin, the local authorities re-started
the dispute through the courts, in a case that is now pending at the High
Court. Catholics fear a negative ruling, which would force them to take
their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. This
would be extremely expensive and time-consuming, even though this may turn
out to be the only effective way for religious minorities to secure freedom
of religion or belief (see F18News 18 January 2007
< e_id=901>).

The authorities in Mersin argue that the Ottoman firman only allows
Catholic people to construct a specific building (a church) and did not
grant them ownership of the land on which it was built. Similar court cases
were brought in the past over the Assumptionist Church in Kadiköy, Istanbul
(ECHR case No. 26308/95).

The Mersin authorities’ desire to confiscate Catholic property would leave
the community with nowhere to worship, though it remains unclear how far
the authorities would go. They could take away legal ownership, while
allowing the Catholics to continue to use the church. In the past,
authorities elsewhere have used such methods to confiscate religious
property "legally".

Another example is in Adana. The town’s Jesuit-run Catholic church has
long faced harassment from local people attending a nearby wedding hall,
which was built close to it in defiance of regulations. The mayor’s office
has said that the wedding hall should be closed but has taken no action to
enforce this.

Ancient cemeteries where Christians are buried – such as in Samsun – or
Christian sections of bigger cemeteries – as in Ankara – are also not being
protected from vandalism, despite requests from the Christian Churches. In
the Black Sea port of Trabzon – where Fr Santoro was murdered – the
Christian cemetery is threatened with confiscation. Muslim cemeteries face
no such problems.

By contrast, spokespersons for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate have
pointed to two positive developments. They welcomed the January 2008
statement in parliament by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the
issue of whether its Patriarch, Bartholomew, is "Ecumenical" or not is an
"internal" matter for the Patriarchate and that the state should not
interfere. Previously the authorities have responded ferociously to any
claims that Bartholomew’s religious role extends beyond Istanbul’s tiny
surviving Greek Orthodox community.

Greek Orthodox spokespersons also welcome the July 2008 ruling by the ECHR
in Strasbourg over the Buyukada orphanage, particularly the finding that
not only does the property belong to the Orthodox Patriarchate but that the
Patriarchate is an existing legal person (application no. 14340/05
accessible at
< asp?sessionId=11514775&skin=hudoc-pr-en&ac tion=html&tableö9A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DE A398649&key=71604&highlight=14340/05%20|%2 014340/05>).

Erdogan’s statement about the title "Ecumenical" is likely to have little
immediate impact on the general public, which continues to regard the
Patriarchate with suspicion or hostility. The ECHR ruling should have an
impact on other religious communities which have so far struggled to assert
their right to a legal existence.

Meanwhile a new party, the Law and Equality Party (Hak ve E&#351;itlik
Partisi), was created on 4 September to promote a nationalist agenda. The
party, founded by a former general prominent in the war against the PKK
Kurdish rebels, is also aimed at getting rid of Christians and ending
Christian proselytism. The first sentence of the call to found the party –
published as a full-page advertisement in many newspapers – attacks what it
calls the "colonisation" of Turkey by missionaries, presumably Christian.
"Turkish nation – we know that you are fed up that your democracy is
treated like a child, that foreign representatives and missionaries run
around on our soil and boss you around," it reads.

Although the party seems to be well-organised in Turkey’s provinces, it
remains unclear how serious it is and how many votes it might be able to
gather in an election. Nevertheless, the party reflects more widely-held
chauvinist views, which see no place in Turkey for non-Muslim minorities
(see F18News 29 November 2007
< e_id=1053>).

Public opinion in Turkey is becoming more hostile to freedom of religion
or belief, and increasingly favours extreme nationalism of the Ergenekon
kind. The government’s actions are favourable to these kinds of views –
even if not to the Ergenekon group itself – and it does not seem to want to
act effectively to protect non-nationalist Turkish citizens. The ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) is not itself an extreme nationalist
party, but it could do much more to make it unambiguously clear that
religious and ethnic minorities are Turkish citizens with equal rights.

The AKP itself is under threat from Ergenekon-style views; indeed, those
associated with the "deep state" recently tried to have the AKP banned. A
fight is underway between the Army and the old Kemalist "deep state" on one
side and the AKP on the other. But it is not at all clear that the AKP is
necessarily in this fight to advance democratic values, including freedom
of religion and belief.

It also remains unclear whether the AKP will prevail. Visits by members of
the General Staff to Ergenekon prisoners ahead of the trial have been
interpreted as a warning to the AKP not to go too far.

The court case against alleged key leaders and members of Ergenekon is
merely the latest step in the power-struggle between the "deep state" (of
which Ergenekon appears to have been a part) and the AKP. That the
judiciary – quite obviously pushed by the government – has initiated the
court case can be seen as proof that the AKP government is fighting back
against those groups in society and state that are striving to drive the
AKP from power.

Whether the Ergenekon court case will prove to be a step towards real
democracy in Turkey – leading to improvements in the area of freedom of
religion and belief – is quite another question. It is not only the court
cases on Ergenekon and the Malatya murders which will decide this. Given
the undeniable threats to the day-to-day security and religious freedom of
Turks who are not nationalists, whether the AKP government effectively
addresses the roots of these threats will be crucial in deciding this
question. (END)

– Dr Otmar Oehring, head of the human rights office of Missio
< lturen/themen/menschenrechte>, a
Catholic charity based in Germany, contributed this comment to Forum 18
News Service. Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily
represent the views of F18News or Forum 18.

PDF and printer-friendly views of this article can be accessed from
< e_id=1206>. It may freely be
reproduced, redistributed or quoted from, with due acknowledgement to Forum
18 <;.

More analyses and commentaries on freedom of thought, conscience and
belief in Turkey can be found at
< mp;religion=all&country=68>.

A printer-friendly map of Turkey is available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=mideast&Rootmap=turk ey>.
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART CURATOR
TO SPEAK AT NAASR ON ARMENIA AND BYZANTIUM

Dr. Helen Evans, Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine Art at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, will give an illustrated
lecture entitled "Armenia and Byzantium: The Larger Picture," on
Thursday, October 30, at 8:00 p.m., at the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont,
MA. This lecture will be co-sponsored by the Ararat Lodge of the
Knights of Vartan and NAASR.

Dr. Evans’ lecture, "Byzantium and Armenia: The Larger Picture," will
explore some of the many important historic, cultural, and artistic
connections between these two cultures within the context of the larger
world picture of the medieval period. A monumental khachkar (stone
cross) that has been lent to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City by the Republic of Armenia will be used as the locus from which the
larger picture of the characteristics of Armenian art and their
interaction with Byzantium and other regional powers will be explored.
The lecture will consider works of art ranging from the age of the
Byzantine emperors Justinian and Heraclios through the time of the
masterpieces of medieval Armenian art in Greater Armenia and in Cilicia.

Evans is a specialist in Byzantine and Armenian art who has been a
member of the Department of Medieval Art at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art since 1991. She curated the exhibition Treasures in Heaven:
Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts at the Morgan Library in 1994 and at
the Metropolitan Museum her major exhibitions have been the acclaimed
"The Glory of Byzantium (843-1261)" in 1997 and "Byzantium: Faith and
Power (1261-1557)" in 2004. She installed the museum’s Mary and Michael
Jaharis Galleries of Byzantine Art in 2000 and recently completed its
expansion and reinstallation this year.

The NAASR Center is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next
to the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building
and in adjacent areas. The lecture will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling 617-489-1610,
faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
October 24, 2008

ATP Film ‘Trees for Life’ Wins Best Short Documentary at Pomegranate Film
Festival
By Jason Sohigian

TORONTO, Canada–The 20 minute film, "Trees for Life: The Story of Armenia
Tree Project," was named Best Short Documentary at the Third Annual
Pomegranate Film Festival in Toronto last month.

The Third Annual Pomegranate Film Festival was held on September 26-28, 2008
and featured 31 films, including "Burning Rome" directed by Robert
Kechichian and "Hrant Dink: Heart of Two Nations" directed by Nouritza
Matossian.

Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has been partnering with the Pomegranate Festival
as part of its Green Initiative, which includes a donation to ATP to plant
trees in Armenia that will offset the carbon emissions of flying guests to
the event.

"Carbon dioxide is a leading contributor to the problem of climate change,
so ATP is proud to work with the Pomegranate Festival to offset these
emissions by planting trees in Armenia to improve the quality of the global
environment," stated Development Officer Paul Yeghiayan, who represented ATP
at the event.

The award-winning ATP documentary, "Trees for Life: The Story of Armenia
Tree Project," was directed by Kennedy Wheatley of Los Angeles and it was
produced for the 10th anniversary of the organization.

Narrated by David Dallakyan, a young boy from the rural village of Aygut,
the film tells the story of ATP’s Backyard Nursery Micro-Enterprise Program,
as well as the interrelated humanitarian programs that have turned this
pilot project into an initiative recognized for an Energy Globe Award for
Sustainability at the European Parliament this year.

"This film was truly a labor of love and I was honored to be invited by
Carolyn Mugar to direct this film about the important work ATP is doing. And
it is exciting that they have developed a model that other countries can
follow," stated Kennedy Wheatley. "The people of Armenia were unbelievably
generous to our crew–they instantly opened their homes and their hearts to
us."

"The ATP staff was amazing too–they worked night and day along with us
during our challenging shoot," added the director. "It is a great honor to
have this film chosen as Best Short Documentary. It is a fitting tribute to
Armenia Tree Project and its many beneficiaries."

The documentary was screened on the afternoon of September 25, where
festival patrons were joined by hundreds of students from the ARS Day School
in Toronto. "We were pleased that our students were able to view the ATP
documentary since this program is so vital for Armenia’s future," stated
Principal Armen Martirossian. "We hope the students will have the desire to
support ATP and together we can build bridges for environmental education
and stewardship in Armenia."

"On behalf of ATP, I would like to express our gratitude to the Pomegranate
Film Festival and the Armenian community of Toronto for their ongoing
support of our work in Armenia," concluded Yeghiayan.

Since 1994, Armenia Tree Project has planted and restored more than
2,000,000 trees and created hundreds of jobs for impoverished Armenians in
tree-regeneration programs. The organization’s three tiered initiatives are
tree planting, community development to reduce poverty and promote
self-sufficiency, and environmental education to protect Armenia’s precious
natural resources. For additional information, visit the web site

PHOTO CAPTION: Students from the ARS Day School in Toronto show their
enthusiasm for ATP’s newsletter after viewing "Trees for Life: The Story of
Armenia Tree Project," which was named Best Short Documentary at the Third
Annual Pomegranate Film Festival

Note to editors: The photograph for this story is available in color if you
can use it for your print publication or web site. Please write to
[email protected] for color version of photo if needed.

October 24, 2008
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE DEPARTS FOR NEW YORK TO PARTICIPATE IN
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

On Friday, Oct. 24, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
departed for New York to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s North American Prelacy.
The 50th anniversary celebratory banquet will take place on the
evening of Saturday, October 25th, at the Marriott Hotel in New Jersey,
under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy, and with the participation of the Prelates and council
members from the three Prelacies. The Prelate will attend the banquet and
convey his message to the guests.
On Sunday, October 26th, the Prelate will participate in the
celebration of Divine Liturgy at St. Vartanants Church in New Jersey.

DIVINE LITURGY AT THE PRELACY CHAPEL

The next Divine Liturgy that will be celebrated at the Prelacy
"St.Dertad and St. Ashkhen" Chapel will take place on Saturday, November
1st, at 6:00 p.m., under the auspices of the Prelate.
Pastor of Holy Martyrs Church Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian, will
celebrate the Liturgy.

HAMAZKAYIN 80TH ANNIVERSARY

On the evening of Sunday, October 26th, a banquet will take place in
celebration of the 80th anniversary of Hamazkayin. The banquet will take
place at "Bagramian" Hall of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will represent the Prelate and convey
his blessings.

SCREENING OF J. MICHAEL HAGOPIAN’S THE RIVER RAN RED

The gala premiere screening of J. Michael Hagopian’s final film of
the Witnesses Trilogy The River Ran Red will take place on the evening of
Friday, October 24th, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian will represent the Prelate.

15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN CENTER FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
STUDIES

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, a reception with the Honorable Raffi
Hovannisian will take place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and Marilyn
Bezdikian on Sunday, October 26th.
Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian will represent the Prelate.

PRELAT
E’S CONCLUDES SCHOOL VISITS

Over the past week, the Prelate concluded his annual school visits
with visits to Ari Guiragos Minassian and Rose and Alex Pilibos Schools.
The Prelate visited A.G. Minassian School on the morning of Tuesday,
October 21st, accompanied by Pastor of Forty Martyrs Church Rev. Fr. Hrant
Yeretzian, Executive Council Chair Dr. Garo Agopian, and Board of Regents
member Mr. Viken Pakradouni. School sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Seta
Minassian were also present.
Upon their arrival the Prelate was welcomed by Principal Dr. Nairy
Gorjian and administration. They visited classrooms where they were greeted
by the students with songs and recitations. A reception in the library
followed.
On Thursday, October 23rd, the Prelate visited Pilibos School,
accompanied by Pastor of St.Garabed Church Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian,
Board of Regents member Mrs. Maggie Sarkouni, and church Board of Trustees
Chair Dr. Misak Barsamian.
The Prelate was welcomed by Principal Dr. Viken Yacoubian and school
administrators, after which they visited classrooms. The Prelate and
delegation then met with 11th grade students at the school library where a
question and answer session took place between the Prelate and students.
The visit concluded with the Prelate conveying his blessings to the
students.

PRELATE PRESIDES OVER "YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION" LECTURE AT HOLY MARTYRS
CHURCH

On Tuesday, October 21st, a lecture in the "Year of Christian
Education" series took place under the auspices of and with the
participation of the Prelate at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino. The lecturer
was Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian who spoke on the topic "The Christian
Response to Contemporary Social Issues".
Following opening remarks by Master of Ceremonies Mrs. Knar
Kortoshian, the keynote speaker was invited to present his lecture. Sunday
School students and the church choir participated in the artistic portion of
the program with songs and recitations, accompanied on the organ by Mr.
Hovig Keushgerian and Mr. Gomidas Keshishian, respectively.
Closing remarks were delivered by the Prelate. A reception followed
in the church courtyard.
The next lecture in this series will take place on Wednesday,
October 29th, at 7:00 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Pastor of
Forty Martyrs Church Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretzian will lecture on "Patriarch
Hovhan Mantagouni’s Discourse on the Sacrament of Holy Communion".
On Friday, October 31st, Rev. Fr. Vahan Gosdanian will lecture at
Holy Trinity Church in Fresno on "The Bible as the Foundation of Christian
Education"

PRELATE WELCOMES ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL WORLD COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE IN
ARMENIA
REV. DR. RENE LEONIAN

On Wednesday, October 22nd, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy Armenian Evangelical World Council
Representative in Armenia Rev. Dr. Rene Leonian and accompanying guests
Minister to the Armenian Evangelical Union Rev. Joe Matossian, Rev. Abraham
Chaparian, and Armenian Missionary Association of America Administrative
Director Mr. Dikran Youmoushakian.
The meeting offered the opportunity for the exchange of information
between the Prelate and guests regarding the endeavors of their respective
churches. Given it was the first visit of Rev. Dr. Leonian and Mr.
Youmoushakian to the Prelacy, the Prelate conveyed to them the work that is
carried out by churches, schools, and various councils and committees
serving under the jurisdiction of the Prelacy, and noting that the 35th
anniversary of the Prelacy will be celebrated this year, highlighted the
accomplishments of the past three decades.
Rev. Dr. Leonian spoke in detail of the reestablishment of the
Armenian Evangelical Church and the expansion of their mission in Armenia
and Artsakh following their independence over a decade ago, as well as of
the challenges they at times face in this regards and means of overcoming
these obstacles to better serve the Armenian people.
The meeting concluded with the exchange of mementos.

GLENDALE-GHAPAN SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY

On Wednesday, October 22nd, the 5th anniversary of the
Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association was celebrated at the courtyard of
the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The event was organized by the Glendale-Chapan
Sister City Association and the City of Glendale.
During the reception, a report was given to the guests of the
collaboration between the two cities and of the recent activities and
projects of the association. An artistic program also took place.
Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian represented the Prelate.

PRELATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH AND PRESIDES OVER
OPENING OF
ANNUAL BOOK FAIR

In celebration of Armenian Culture Month and in keeping with a
years-long tradition, the Pastor and Board of Trustees of Forty Martyrs
Church, in conjunction with the administration and parent support committee
of A.G. Minassian School, had organized a book fair that took place on
Sunday, October 19th, at the "Ghazarian" Hall of the "Harout Barsamian
Armenian Center" in Orange County.
The day began with Divine Liturgy celebrated by H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, who was assisted at the altar by parish
priest Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretzian.
The Prelate began his sermon by referencing the situation in Armenia
at the time of the Translator fathers of our church and the unfavorable
conditions that threatened the unique heritage of the Armenian people. In
this dire situation, it was by the grace of God alone that St. Mesrob
Mashdots invented the Armenian alphabet, thus ushering in a new age and
cementing the national identity of the Armenian people. With the
translating of the Bible, the Word of God became readily available for all
the people to read and study. "As the heirs to this legacy of our
Translator fathers, let us remain true to them by fostering the Armenian
language in our youth", continued the Prelate. He also urged the faithful
to continue to support and back A.G. Minassian School in all its endeavors,
and contribute actively to its progress for the benefit of our youth and
their education and instruction.
Following Divine Liturgy the Prelate and parishioners proceeded to
"Ghazarian" Hall where the Prelate presided over the opening of the book
fair and commended the organizers for honoring Armenian Culture Month by
keeping the tradition of the book fair alive for all these years.
A reception followed at "Gugasian" Hall.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ELCHIN SHIKHLINSKI: "SITUATION IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AZERBAIJAN LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED"

Today.Az
23 October 2008 [11:18]

The report of the organization "Reporters without borders" regarding
freedom of speech in the world, proves that the situation with freedom
of speech in our country is far from normal, said Elchin Shikhlinski,
chairman of the Reporters Union of Azerbaijan and editor-in-chief of
the Zerkalo newspaper.

He said Azerbaijan’s lagging behind Armenia and Georgia is explained
by existence of three imprisoned journalists in our country, while
there are no imprisoned reporters either in Georgia or Armenia.

"Naturally, this fact can hardly be presented as a positive step,
proving freedom of speech in the country.

Georgia and Armenia applied censorship but soon lifted it", said
Shikhlinski

As for presidential elections in Azerbaijan, he said "Reporters
without borders" held a monitoring of local press, though only in
state-financed newspapers. In the result, a conclusion was made that
the said mass medias lack pluralism of opinions.

"I do not exclude that their report was made by results of this
very monitoring".

According to Shikhlinski, any organization, covering a definite area
of life, can assess the situation in this very area. The point is how
the assessment of any international organization will be perceived
by the society of the country analyzed.

"In this connection, I would say that I do not know how important the
situation under which Azerbaijan is ranked 150th in the report of the
"Reporters without borders" is for the Azerbaijani society.

As for problems in the sphere of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan,
he said a problem of pluralism of opinions in mass medias can be
spoken of in Azerbaijan.

"Any local edition has a right to express any thoughts, but one can
hardly come across an opposite opinion on the same TV channel or in
the same newspaper.

Moreover, as is known, the total number of officially registered
newspapers in Azerbaijan has topped 3,500. Unfortunately, there are
few serious editions in our country, which meet all principles of
journalism and demonstrate loyalty to pluralism of opinions.

In other words, Azerbaijan has very influential, independent, free
newspapers, wonderful analysts and journalists, expressing their
opinion freely, but on the whole, the situation in freedom of speech
in Azerbaijan leaves much to be desired.

WATERTOWN FIGHT FLARES ANEW
By Christina Pazzanese

Boston Globe
October 23, 2008
United States

WATERTOWN – The Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts took the
president of the Watertown Town Council to task this week for saying
he felt comfortable with the Anti-Defamation League’s assurances that
it recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

Sharistan Melkonian, the committee chairwoman, sent a letter Monday to
Clyde L. Younger saying the group was "shocked" to read his comments
in an article in last Sunday’s Globe.

In an interview with the Globe nearly two weeks ago, Younger said he
felt comfortable after receiving a letter from the league’s national
director, Abraham H. Foxman, on Oct. 3 that, Younger said, clarified
the ADL’s position on the genocide.

"We would welcome a sincere, unambiguous acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide by the Anti-Defamation League," Melkonian said in the letter
to Younger. "Rather, what we have observed is an organization engaged
in a double game: issuing disingenuous statements that do not actually
recognize the Armenian Genocide but are crafted in such a way as to
mislead the public."

The group has asked Younger to clarify his comments.

In an interview Tuesday, Younger said he has heard from Armenian
activists who worry that his position might mean the council will
no longer pressure the league to better explain its stance or to
have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts drop its support for
the league’s No Place for Hate program – or worse yet, that the town
might resume the program.

Those fears are unfounded, as his view of the letter "doesn’t change
anything," Younger said.

"That’s just my personal opinion. The council has not voted on the
matter whatsoever," he said. "I feel they [the ADL] have stated it
is a genocide."

While the issue isn’t slated to be discussed at next Tuesday’s council
meeting, that does not preclude it from being on the agenda of a
future session, said Younger.

"Part of it is probably my problem," Younger added. "I don’t know what
the litmus test is for the ADL and I guess I need further feedback
[from people] that read that memo and see how they interpret it."

Younger said he spoke with an assistant to Foxman on Monday and
reiterated a request to have Foxman or another league representative
come to Watertown to discuss the issue with the council at length. He
has even offered to go to New York to meet with league officials,
he said.

Younger said he was told that Foxman was out of the country until
after the Nov. 4 presidential election.

"They’re not promising anything," he said.

Formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide by both the league and
the US Congress has been a hot-button issue in Watertown, which has
a large Armenian-American population.

In August 2007, the town dropped its participation in the league’s No
Place for Hate antibias program for what it considered a deliberate
effort by Foxman and the league to avoid labeling the slaughter of 1.5
million Armenians by Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1923 as a genocide,
as well as the league’s opposition to a congressional resolution that
sought official recognition of the genocide by the US government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANCA REVEALED FORMER U. S. PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL WORKING FOR ANKARA

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-22 16:27:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 22.10.08. DE FACTO. On October 22 the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) revealed that the Turkish Government has
hired former Bush Administration official, Noam Neusner, to harness
Jewish American support for a pro-Turkey agenda in Congress, with
defeat of the Armenian Genocide Resolution as his top priority.

"If Turkey had a credible case to make to the Jewish American community
– which has grown weary of Ankara’s pressure to deny the Armenian
Genocide – it wouldn’t need to be spending this kind of money in a
misguided attempt to manipulate Jewish American opinion," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Sadly, it seems that for $8,500
a month from a foreign government, Neusner Communications is putting
at risk the well-deserved reputation of the Jewish American community
as a powerful opponent of all genocides and a defender of universal
human rights."

This revelation came as part of a September 30, 2008, mandatory
U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Foreign Agent Registration
Act filings by Neusner Communications, LLC, a Washington, DC public
relations firm that had been on the Turkish Government payroll since
September, 2007. The initial registration document submitted by the
firm cites "policy goals" including "U.S. Jewish efforts to promote
a pro-Turkey agenda in the U.S. Congress." Neusner Communications LLC
is tasked to ensure "regular emails and phone calls to Jewish leaders
highlighting Turkey’s relationship with Israel" and facilitating the
"creation of working relationships between U.S.-based Jewish and
Turkish community groups."

Neusner’s filings reveal that the first order of business for the
public relations firm was, in September and October of last year,
to contact top Jewish-American organizations regarding pending
Armenian Genocide legislation, H.Res.106. Beginning with a phone
conversation with AIPAC Director of National Affairs and Development
Jon Missner on September 17th, Neusner personally contacted groups,
including JINSA, the American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League,
B’nai B’rith, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations,
and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs some 23 times over the next
four weeks regarding H.Res.106.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide
Resolution on October 11th by a vote of 27 to 21.

The U.S. DOJ filings note subsequent emails by Neusner with the ADL’s
Director of Government and National Affairs Jess Hordes regarding "ADL
action on HR 106," and ADL Director "Abe Foxman’s visit to Turkey"
in May, 2008. Neusner continued to hold meetings with AIPAC’s Jon
Missner and National Political Director Rob Bassin regarding the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, including one on November 29th. Seven
months later, Neusner held a follow up meeting with Missner and AIPAC
Director of Research and Information Rafi Danziger to discuss "Turkish
concerns about Armenian issue; lack of support on the Hill from Jewish
orgs." The meeting came just one day after the House Foreign Affairs
Committee held a two- hour hearing on the South Caucasus region,
with specific focus on Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia. In total,
in the span of one year, Neusner Communications contacted or met with
Jewish American groups at least 100 times – 32 times specifically to
discuss Armenian Genocide legislation or Armenian American concerns.

Neusner is well-known to Jewish American leaders, having served
as President Bush’s liaison to the U.S. Jewish community from 2002
through 2005, in addition to his capacity as Special Assistant to the
President for Economic Speechwriting. Neusner’s DOJ filings indicate
that he was hired by the "Embassy of the Republic of Turkey through
DiNovo Strategies and Fleishman Hilliard." DiNovo Strategies partner
Jay Footlik served as Clinton Administration liaison to Jewish
Americans and to European and Mediterranean groups, including the
Armenian American community.

According to the Foreign Agent Registration Act, a firm must register
within ten days of agreeing to become an agent and before performing
any activities for the foreign entity. It is unclear why Neusner
Communications’ filings were submitted over one-year after it began
lobbying for Turkey, a lapse that may represent a violation of U.S. DOJ
registration guidelines. FARA also mandates that all communications
from public relations firms must conspicuously cite any connection
to a foreign government. Copies of email communications submitted
by Neusner Communications to the U.S. DOJ make no reference to his
firm’s representation of the Turkish Government.

Neusner Communications, Inc. is one of four public relations firms
currently representing the Government of Turkey, including DLA Piper,
Fleishman Hilliard, and the Gephardt Group, who together receive
over $3 million a year for their services. Neusner Communications
is currently paid $8,500 a month by the Embassy of the Republic of
Turkey. Leading the campaign to clean up Turkey’s image in the United
States are former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt and House
Majority Leader Dick Armey. Former House Appropriations Committee
Chairman Bob Livingston ended his eight-year, $13 million lobbying
stint with Turkey earlier this year, after which he picked up a
lucrative $2.4 million contract with Libya.