Month: October 2008

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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CALLS FOR CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM COEXISTENCE,
CONDEMNS THE VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ

Condemning attacks on Christians in certain parts of Iraq, particularly in
the city of Mosul, His Holiness Aram I called on the Iraqi authorities to
exert all influence to stop the hostility. The Armenian Pontiff stressed
that Christians and Muslims have lived together for centuries in the Middle
East and in Iraq with mutual respect and love. Considering the current
situation as unacceptable, His Holiness pointed out that the Middle East is
the cradle of Christianity; Christians are equal citizens in all the
countries in the region and should be included in all community and
government structures. "We are confident that the Iraqi government will
revert to the necessary measures to prevent these irresponsible acts against
Christians," he said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also condemned the developments during
a telephone conversation with the Iraqi President, calling for utmost
attention to Christian-Muslim coexistence.

His Holiness issued his statement in Geneva, where he is participating in an
international Christian-Muslim conference. He also called upon the World
Council of Churches to express its position on this issue with a similar
condemnation.

##
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.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) – Europe
Email: [email protected]

Nagorno Karabakh, its Neighbourhood and the Wider Europe

An AGBU Europe round table

Brussels, 19 October 2008. A delegation from Nagorno-Karabakh visited
Brussels from October 14 to 17 to take part in a round table hosted by the
AGBU in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation Brussels office. The
delegation was composed of Eduard Atanesyan, Deputy foreign Affairs Minister
of Nagorno Karabakh and David Babayan, Head of the Information Department of
the Office of the President of Karabakh.

The Round table brought together representatives of various organisations
and institutions involved in European policy in the region, including NGOs,
Think Tanks, Embassies and the European Institutions. Azerbaijani diplomats
and NGOs in Brussels, though invited, did not attend.

Karabakh is one of the 3 territories in the Caucasus which declared
independence at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. After
successfully defending its independence in an unequal war with Azerbaijan
between 1992 and 1994, this small republic of 145 000 inhabitants has since
struggled to rebuild itself, to establish a functioning state and to
develop.

This is the first visit to Brussels by a delegation from Karabakh since
1999. The visit aimed to allow EU decision-makers and experts to establish
contact with representatives from Karabakh and to inform them about the
country¹s situation. Even though the EU¹s interest in the South Caucasus has
increased considerable in recent years, it has abstained from establishing
relations with Karabakh, even at the most informal level. Amazingly, the EU
current special representative for the South Caucasus has not yet travelled
to Karabakh, though he has visited other unrecognized republics.

The round table reviewed the state of Karabakh¹s economy, state and society.
Karabakh¹s economy is developing fast, but started very low after it was
entirely destroyed in the war. It faces challenges similar to those of most
other post-soviet republic, compounded by the absence of international
assistance and by potential investors¹ reticence caused by the country¹s
unrecognized status. On the other hand, the speakers claimed that governance
and democratic standards, facilitated by the country¹s small size, are
rather more advanced than in the neighbouring South Caucasian republics

Over the last 14 years, negotiations have been carried out under the aegis
of the Minsk group of the OSCE to seek agreement on its final status. In
this context, both Babayan and Atanesyan explained their government¹s
positions in the context of the negotiations by describing their territory¹s
specific situation and its experience of a terrible war. Karabakh aspires to
being included as a party in the negotiations on its future status, which it
is still excluded from. In a lively discussion regarding the right of return
of Azeris refugees from Karabakh, Babayan confirmed that they were welcome
to return, providing they accept the jurisdiction of Nagorno -Karabakh. He
insisted however, that refugees should not be used as pawns in a political
game, and that negotiations on the topic should genuinely aim to satisfy
their right of return. The round table held on Octobre 16 was the first in a
series of round tables and events which AGBU Europe will be organizing in
the context of its work with the European institutions. The next event to be
organized will be a conference (November 13) on the rediscovery of Armenian
Heritage in Turkey

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) – Europe
Email: [email protected]

«A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery: Armenian Heritage in Turkey ».
Thursday November 13, 2008 at the European Parliament, Brussels

On November 13 AGBU Europe will host a conference in the European Parliament
entitled
« A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery: Armenian Heritage in Turkey ».

The conference, which is part of the official European Year for
Intercultural Dialogue, will review the recent public debate in Turkey on
the country’s forgotten Armenian Heritage in the light of recent
groundbreaking artistic and intellectual contributions on the subject and
will examine the significance of Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey from a
European perspective.

Speakers at the conference will include Fethiye Cetin, author of the book
"My Grandmother", Osman Köker, creator of the groundbreaking exhibition "My
Dear Brother", art historian Professor Patrick Donabedian as well as
historians Vahe Tachjian and Ara Sarafian. The conference will be opened by
Michael Leigh, Director General at the European Commission in charge of
enlargement.

The conference will conclude with a panel debate. A reception will follow
the conference.

This event is organized under the Aegis of Bernard Lehideux MEP, with the
support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Brussels office.

The conference is open to all but prior registration is indispensable to
access the European Parliament’s building.

Registration deadline: 4 November 2008.

The conference brochure and registration form can be downloaded at:
< <;
> (direct access:
& lt; s/#more-135>

For registration and further information, please contact AGBU at:
Tel +331 45 20 03 18. Email: [email protected]

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

LIVING IN COMMUNITY: THE GOAL OF CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE

"Living together in community must take the centre stage of Christian-Muslim
dialogue," said His Holiness Aram I at the opening of an 18-20 October
ecumenical consultation aimed at developing a common Christian theological
understanding of dialogue with Islam.

"The prevailing misperceptions, ambiguities, polarizations, tensions and
collision (of values between Muslims and Christians), hijacked and sharpened
by politico-ideological agendas and geo-political strategies, can be
transformed only through a shared life in community," stated His Holiness
Aram I, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Cilicia), in
delivering the key-note speech of the consultation.

For His Holiness Aram I, such a "community building must take place on the
basis of equal rights and obligations, as well as full and active
participation in all aspects of society life, including decision-making". It
"presupposes a quality of integration that provides equal opportunities,
ensures diversity and enhances mutual acceptance".

Among the "divisive issues" to be addressed, His Holiness Aram I listed how
both religions deal with the relationship between faith and reason, the
response to secularism, the concept of mission and the tension between human
rights and Islamic law.

Having a "rich history" of Christian-Muslim dialogue, the ecumenical
movement needs to keep pursuing it with a "more focused" agenda, "touching
on issues that pertain to the life of the people," said His Holiness Aram I.

Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), together with a number of
Christian world communions, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the
Roman Catholic Church, the consultation has gathered some 50 church leaders
and experts on Christian-Muslim dialogue in Chavannes-de-Bogis, outside
Geneva, Switzerland.

Full text of the keynote lecture delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram
I:
English/messages60.htm

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

FOCUS News Agency – Sofia, Bulgaria
21 October 2008
Medvedev announces Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict talks

Yerevan. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday he hoped to host
talks between his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to resolve a
simmering conflict over the Nagorny Karabakh region, AFP reported.
"I hope that in the near future a meeting between the three presidents will
take place to find a solution to the problem" of the disputed territory,
Medvedev said at a news conference with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
on a visit to Yerevan. "I hope it will take place in Russia."
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at daggers drawn since Armenian separatists
took control of the disputed territory, which lies inside Azerbaijan, in a
war in the early 1990s.
Soldiers from the two sides in the conflict regularly exchange fire,
contributing to instability in the volatile Caucasus region, where a war
took place in August between Georgia and Russia.
Sarkisian said Armenia was ready for talks on the basis of principles worked
out at international negotiations in Madrid last year, which he said meant
the people of Nagorny Karabakh have the right to self-determination.

TREND news Agency – Baku, Azerbaijan
Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
Problem

21.10.08

The meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia may take place in
Russia soon, where the State Heads will discuss the question of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the President of Russia, Dmitry
Medvedev, said in Yerevan, ITAR-TASS reported.
`The meeting of three Presidents must take place soon. This meeting will be
held in Russia,’ Russian State Head said.
Formerly the President of Armenia, Serj Sarkisyan, stated that his country
`positively assesses the mediation mission of Russia in the OSCE Minsk
Group’ on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Together with other co-chairmen –
France and the USA, Russia `contributes to the process of peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict’. ` Armenia again confirmed its
readiness for search for the solution on the basis of Madrid principles,’
said Sarkisyan after negotiations with Dmitriy Medvedev.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988 due
to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20%
of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven
surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories
have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding
peaceful negotiations.

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

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

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.

TURKEY: TURKISH NATIONALISM, ERGENEKON, AND DENIAL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

By 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

PRESS OFFICE
The Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Simon Y. Balian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Prime-Minister Tigran Sargsyan attend
Mardigian Dedication Ceremony at the FAR Children Support Center
(CSCF) in Yerevan

"Considering the size of our country the number of children we can
save might be large; however, the number is not large enough if we
consider the number of abandoned children on the street whose future
still looks colorless and gloomy," said Mira Antonyan, the director of
the FAR Children Support Center in Yerevan. "This is why we are truly
blessed to have humanitarians like the Mardigian family in our midst.
Philanthropists who believe in what we are doing and support our
important work here."

A number of guests expressed their deep appreciation during the
dedication ceremony on September 28th, honoring the long-term
commitment of Edward & Janet Mardigian – highlighted by a pledge of $1
million toward the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) Homeless Children’s
Center. Speakers included Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
Armenian Church in America (Eastern Diocese) and President of Fund for
Armenian Relief; Armenian Prime-Minister Tigran Sargsyan; the Minister
of Labor and Social Affairs, Arsen Hambardzumyan; and Randy
Sapah-Gulian, Chairman of Fund for Armenian Relief.

Initially, the FAR Children’s Support Center served as a short-term
sanctuary for homeless children. Street children were brought to the
FAR facility in Yerevan and cared for by trained professionals who
would find them suitable placements.

More than 4,000 troubled children from across Armenia and Karabagh
have been helped at the center since its founding in 2000. Today the
FAR Children’s Support Center is becoming a full-service facility for
children at risk and their families. By expanding its assistance and
adding new locations, the center constantly confirms its role as the
child protection pioneer in Armenia.

In a country where 48% of families with infants still live in extreme
poverty – a level well below the poverty line – there is an alarmingly
growing trend of parents abandoning their children. This abandonment
results in many being placed in institutions, such as orphanages,
boarding schools and specialized training institutions. Many others
are destined to live on the street.

"It is heartbreaking to see what is happening to Armenian children,"
said Janet Mardigian following her tour of the FAR Children’s Support
Center in July 2007. "Anyone who visits cannot leave without shedding
tears. It was very difficult coming home from there. I love children
and have a soft spot for them. They are the ones who need help."

FAR’s social workers, psychologists, and healthcare professionals will
use the pledged funds to care for Armenia’s at-risk children. The gift
will provide immediate funding for the prevention of child abandonment
by enhancing and expanding the Center’s family and
community-strengthening programs.

"We chose FAR’s Homeless Children’s Center because of FAR’s strong
experience as child welfare advocates in Armenia and its track record
as pioneers in effecting positive change in children’s lives," Edward
Mardigian said. "It is our family’s duty to support the children of
Armenia, Karabagh and Javakhk."

In recognition of the gift, the FAR has established the Child
Protection Foundation. As part of the event Edward and Janet Mardigian
unveiled a special plaque – an elegant basalt stone with the
inscription "Helen and Edward Mardigian Family Child Protection
Foundation."

"They taught us to want to give back, communicating that this country
was good to them and so they wanted to give back to the community,"
Edward Mardigian said. "My father focused on the Armenian community,
however, he wanted to serve everyone, which is why our family started
the foundation."

Established in 1955, the Helen and Edward Mardigian Foundation has
provided significant support to various religious, cultural and
educational philanthropies, including a major contribution to the
building of St. John’s Armenian Church of Greater Detroit, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Armenian Assembly of
America, and the restoration of many historic Armenian churches and
monasteries worldwide. It has funded three museums: the Edward and
Helen Mardigian Museum in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem, the
museum in the Armenian monastery in Geghard, Armenia, and others. It
also created the Helen and Edward Mardigian Institute, a highly
successful training program for educators, particularly for Sunday
School teachers without a professional education background.

Major benefactors to the University of Michigan- Dearborn, the campus
library was rededicated the Helen and Edward Mardigian Library in
their honor. More recently, the Mardigian Foundation has donated to
the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Geriatrics
Center Building, the Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital’s Mardigian Family
Surgery Center in Michigan, and the River Otter Exhibit at the Detroit
Zoo. It also provides grants for cardiac research at the University
of Michigan and lymphoma research at the Mayo Clinic.

For more information on FAR or to send donations, visit
or contact at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016;
Tel: (212) 889-5150 or email: [email protected]

Click here for photographs of the event. – -xumLRy7lZJ_zV8x3xrAWYsjUhn7kbuZNX7SgWW_3QlVQ1c0Bu 6K_76_lURitXeDyk9XQM7jlfsESa9_1V0fcNW2uB0ca5cqLlhA PDpt1pt9CbT8kkbB3u0xq2xNdTcG3q_RskXVMBpWwVddLGHxLv gPWlDE0gQ==

Fund for Armenian ReliefGarnik A. NanagoulianExecutive Director
email: [email protected]: (212) 889-5150

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

TURKEY HIRES FORMER BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO SHORE UP RIFTS
WITH JEWISH AMERICAN GROUPS; FIGHT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
revealed today 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 has 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.

Neusner Communications filings are available on the ANCA website.

Neusner Communications FARA Registration:
Neusner_Registration_0908.pdf

Neusner Communications Supplemental Report – 09/07-02/08:
eusner_Supplemental_0308.pdf

Neusner Communications Supplemental Report – 03/08-09/08:
eusner_Supplemental_0908.pdf

MAN WHO STOLE FROM ARMENIAN SCOUTS TO SERVE TWO YEARS IN PRISON
By Steve Bagley

Daily News Transcript
Oct 20, 2008 @ 05:50 PM
MA

WATERTOWN — A Burlington man who prosecutors said stole more than
$120,000 from an Armenian youth group based in Watertown was sentenced
to two years in state prison.

On Friday, Oct. 10, Raffi Donoyan, 49, was sentenced to two years in
state prison on one count of larceny over $250 by Superior Court Judge
Hiller Zobel, according to a press release from the State Attorney
General’s office.

On the second count, Zobel sentenced Donoyan to two additional years
in the state House of Correction with the sentence suspended for five
years, to be served when the time in state prison is completed.

The Attorney General’s office recommended Donoyan pay full restitution,
but the judge did not order Donoyan to do so.

Donoyan pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny over $250 in an
Aug. 20 hearing.

According to the Attorney General’s office, Donoyan stole from
Homenetmen Eastern Region, Inc., a nonprofit athletic organization
based in Watertown, with 10 chapters across the Eastern United States,
for almost two years.

>From 2003 to August 2005, Donoyan served as athletic director. From
November 2003 to August 2005, Donoyan was found to have stolen more
than $120,000 from Homenetmen.

According to the Attorney General’s office, Donoyan was taking the
money by writing cash withdrawals from the organization’s account and
writing checks to himself. In 2005, the treasurer and president of
Homenetmen asked Donoyan about irregularities in the organization’s
accounts, but Donoyan said it was due to the IRS having taken money
from the account.

Donoyan deposited $20,000 into the organization’s account in February
2005, but started taking money out again in May, the Attorney General’s
office said. Some of the stolen money included Homenetmen youths’
deposits to go to Homenetmen’s World Athletic Games, held in Athens,
Greece, in 2005.

Donoyan will begin serving his sentence on Oct. 24. Homenetmen did
not immediately return a request for comment.