ASBAREZ Online [05-09-2006]

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05/09/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenia Marks Victory in WWII And Liberation of Shushi 2) Turkish Armed Forces Aim to Harm EU Bid 3) Kurdish Problem Must Be Solved Democratically Says Lagendijk 4) Homenetmen Kicks off 31st Annual Navasartian Games 1) Armenia Marks Victory in WWII And Liberation of Shushi YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Thousands of people joined by senior government officials and foreign diplomats gathered at the World War II memorial in Yerevan on Tuesday, officially marking the 61st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the 14th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi in Karabagh. President Robert Kocharian and other senior Armenian officials observed a minute of silence and laid wreaths by the monument's eternal fire, honoring the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in WWII and the Karabagh war. They then joined the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, in praying for the dead. The annual ceremony also involved a small parade of Armenian and Russian troops. In a written address to the nation, Kocharian praised Armenian contribution to the Allied victory in World War II. "Armenian soldiers, officers and generals participated in battles waged on all fronts of the war, always keeping high Armenia's honor," he said. Some 600,000 citizens of Soviet Armenia took part in the war. Nearly half of them lost their lives--a catastrophic death toll for what was then a republic of less than two million inhabitants. "May 9 is also important for us because it was the day of the liberation of Shushi. It became the symbol of the battle for Artsakh's freedom and determination of the Armenian nation," added Kocharian. As always, the celebration of Victory Day in Armenia had a particular significance for the country's dwindling ranks of the mostly octogenarian veterans. Hundreds of them again put on their wartime medals to visit Yerevan's Victory Park and remember their fallen comrades. Gurgen Martirosian was an 18-year-old Red Army conscript when Nazi Germany unleashed a massive assault on the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. "We were awakened at five o'clock in the morning on that day and fought until April 28, 1945," he recalled. "That's when I left Berlin and returned home." Gurgen Manukian also reached Berlin after nearly three years of fierce fighting. "I was in the trenches for one thousand days," he said proudly. "We hope you won't see what he have seen," said another gray-haired veteran. "The worst thing on earth is war." 2) Turkish Armed Forces Aim to Harm EU Bid (Combined Sources)--Recent Turkish-Kurdish clashes are an attempt by Turkish forces to destroy the country's EU entry chances, said Ahmed Turk, leader of the largest Kurdish political party, the Democratic Society Party (DTP). "There are forces that do not want a modern Turkey or EU accession. Currently there are major attempts by these forces to put the government under enormous pressure," he told the German daily newspaper Die Welt. An anti-terrorist legislative crackdown has raised fears in Europe that Turkey might regress in its human rights reforms. Another concern is a case involving two Turkish military intelligence officers arrested with a Kurdish separatist turned informer, after a grenade attack, which killed a man last November. The prosecution has accused the men of being part of an execution squad targeting suspected Kurdish insurgents, fueling concerns about the army's role in the country's political system. The PKK, a terrorist Kurdish separatist group, has been blamed for a wave of recent violence, including the bombing of a school bus carrying soldiers' children last week that killed 17 people. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the country's Kurdish population to condemn the violence; however he has also pledged justice. "We in the government will respond robustly to terrorism but also determinedly pursue our efforts towards democracy and development," Erdogan told Kurds in southeast Turkey. 3) Kurdish Problem Must Be Solved Democratically Says Lagendijk DIYARBAKIR (Turkish Press)--Joost Lagendijk, Co-chairman of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, said Tuesday that democracy is the only way to solve the Kurdish problem in Turkey. In his speech at the "Civil Rights Project in Southeastern Region" meeting in Diyarbakir, Lagendijk noted that dialogue is very important in finding a solution to many of the region's problems. Lagendijk said that as long as violence persists in the region, there would not be any investment there, adding that authorities should also focus on the economic and social development of the region. He said that unless Turkey improves the conditions of people living in its southeastern region, it could not be a full member of the EU. Responding to a question about minorities, Lagendijk said that Europe's definition of minority is different than Turkey's. Lagendijk said that although Kurds do not define themselves as a minority, the EU considers Kurds a minority. He said that the rights of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin should be improved. During his visit, Lagendijk also said that all of Europe wants to see Kurdish politicians who strongly denounce violence. "Europe needs Kurdish politicians who do not follow the PKK and reject violence," he said. In his meeting with Lagendijk, the leader of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), a pro-Kurdish social democratic party, said that the DTP will do everything possible to end violence in Turkey. "No problem, including the Kurdish one, can be resolved with guns and violence," said Ahmet Turk. DTP co-leader Aysel Tugluk stressed that Turkey must make reforms to gain the support of the Kurdish people. "The Anti-Terror Laws and mass troop deployment around the southeastern border seem to be activities that are taking Turkey back to the old days," commented Tugluk. Lagendijk said that the rights of Kurds should be defended. He pointed out that the presence of a party that represents the Kurdish people in the Turkish parliament is essential. "Therefore, the election system in Turkey needs to be changed," stated Lagendijk. During his visit, Lagendijk also met with Diyarbakir Governor Efkan Ala and Mayor Osman Baydemir. 4) Homenetmen Kicks off 31st Annual Navasartian Games Officially marking the start Homenetmen's 31st annual Navasartian Games, the Navasartian torch was lit Sunday, May 7 in front of the Khatchkar (cross-stone) at St. Mary's Apostolic Church in Glendale. Following a flag ceremony by Homenetmen's Boy Scouts, Aram Chobanian spoke on behalf of the Homenetmen Regional Executive. Chobanian said that more 3000 athletes will take part in this year's games and the tournament will include 650 basketball games alone, making it the second largest in Southern California. Homenetmen Central Executive members Mher Tavitian and Manuel Marselian, Armenian Relief Society Western Region (ARS) Chairwoman Angela Savoian and Regional Executive member Rita Hintlian, LA City Councilmember Wendy Greuel, and various Homenetmen representatives were present at the event. During the ceremony, Father Vazken Atmajian blessed the fire, after which Homenetmen Regional Chairman Raffi Ispenjian passed the torch to the athletes, symbolizing the opening of the games. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. 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