Author: Antonian Lara

Selectmen back Human Rights Committee’s letter to the Anti-Defamation League

By Steven Ryan
GateHouse News Service
Thu Sep 20, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT

Needham –

The Needham Human Rights Committee’s letter to the Anti-Defamation
League criticizing the national organization’s controversial stance on
the Armenian Genocide spoke volumes, according to members of the Board
of Selectmen.

"I think it was an exceptional letter," said Selectman John Bulian.

Selectman Jack Cogswell felt the Human Rights Committee’s letter to
the ADL was a strong course of action, expressing the town’s feeling
that the ADL must back Congressional legislation recognizing the mass
deportation and murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire
during the World War I era, as genocide.

"In our opinion, the longer the national board waits, the more
credibility the organization loses, and the more difficult it is for
us as a committee for human rights to carry on our work with the ADL,"
wrote Human Rights Committee Chairwoman Debbie Watters.

Needham’s main involvement with No Place for Hate revolves around
student-led activities at the high school during the month of March.

"I support precisely what it was [Watters] said in the letter," Cogswell said.

The Board of Selectmen, which has the final say on Needham’s
involvement with the ADL-co-sponsored No Place for Hate program, has
no plans to overstep the Human Rights Committee in their handling of
the controversy, according to board members.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association, the other co-sponsor of No
Place for Hate, designated Needham a No Place for Hate town in 2000
through the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen could end that designation
with or without input from the Human Rights Committee. Members of the
board said they would not consider taking such unilateral action.

"We’re not going to," Cogswell said. "We’re waiting for a
recommendation from the Human Rights Committee."

The ADL first came under fire in Watertown, where the Town Council
ended its involvement with No Place for Hate, citing the ADL’s alleged
denial of the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish government rejects the
characterization of events as genocide.

Over the past couple of months, the ADL fired Regional Director Andrew
Tarsy after he publicly acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. He was
rehired on Monday, Aug. 27. In between the firing and rehiring, the
ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman, issued a statement claiming
the tragic events of more than 90 years ago were "tantamount to
genocide," a statement many in the Armenian-American community feel
falls short. The ADL does not support the Congressional legislation.

"What does ‘tantamount to genocide’ mean?" said Charles Sahagian, of
Hunting Road, at a meeting of the Human Rights Committee earlier this
month. "Isn’t it genocide?"

Bulian said the Human Rights Committee is "taking the right course,"
reiterating his personal view that "there absolutely was a genocide."

"I support the Congressional resolution," Bulian said.

Selectman Jerry Wasserman, who is on the board of the MMA, believes
the Human Rights Committee’s approach could be more effective than
just taking immediate action and severing ties with the organization.
The national ADL will hold its annual meeting in November, at which it
plans to discuss the organization’s position on the Armenian Genocide
and on the legislation.

"The advantage of not pulling out before then is it puts more pressure
on them to change their position," Wasserman said. "Needham, combined
with the MMA and other communities [taking this course of action] will
have that influence."

The MMA issued a proclamation last week supporting the Congressional
legislation on the Armenian Genocide, calling it "an essential act to
heal and bring parties together." But the MMA didn’t sever ties with
the ADL, saying it would "subsequently re-evaluate its official
sponsorship of the No Place for Hate program after the national ADL
determines whether to adopt the position taken by the Executive
Committee of the New England Region."

Selectman Dan Matthews joined his fellow selectmen in throwing his
support behind the Human Rights Committee, feeling the committee is
"taking a sound approach" with its letter.

"The town’s approach is patient but persistent," Matthews said. "The
issue is new to us in town government. [The ADL] is a national
organization, a good organization. It’s a good organization that made
a bad decision."

Steven Ryan can be reached at [email protected].

——————–

Massachusett s Municipal Association

Whereas the Massachusetts Municipal Association believes that in order
to build and nurture strong and vibrant communities throughout the
commonwealth and our nation, it is essential that all people strive to
promote and protect basic human rights, understanding and
reconciliation; and

Whereas this applies to both historical and present-day events, as
each affects and guides the future:

Therefore the Massachusetts Municipal Association hereby resolves the following:

· The tragic events and horrible crimes against humanity initiated
against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 must be
recognized by all as genocide;

· The MMA applauds and supports the position of the New England
Regional Director and New England Regional Executive Committee of the
ADL for their leadership in calling for the unequivocal recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and support for the Congressional Resolution
before the U.S. House and Senate;

· The MMA partnered with the New England Region of the ADL as a
founding sponsor of the NPFH Program because of the region’s
demonstrated expertise and commitment as a human rights organization
that provides high-quality community-based programs that unite people;

· The MMA applauds the success of the No Place For Hate Program in 60
communities in Massachusetts and expresses its desire that the program
and its good work promoting tolerance, understanding and
reconciliation, fighting hatred, racism, ethnic and religious
discrimination, and engaging in both community-building and pro-active
efforts to protect all members of the community, will be able to
continue and flourish;

· The MMA recognizes and appreciates the national ADL’s recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and the reinstatement of the New England
Regional Director, a respected, dedicated, compassionate and skilled
leader and partner in community-based work, yet sees these as steps in
addressing the issues that have been raised during the past month, not
final actions;

· The MMA respectfully calls on the national ADL to support the
Congressional Resolution as the essential act to heal and bring all
parties together; and

· The MMA will continue to review and monitor this matter, guided by
the wishes and policies of our members and the participating
communities, recognizing that while progress has been made, the MMA
will subsequently re-evaluate its official sponsorship of the No Place
for Hate program after the national ADL determines whether to adopt
the position taken by the Executive Committee of the New England
Region.

Source:

BOMB KILLS DEPUTY AND THREATENS TO TOPPLE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT
By Robert Fisk in Beirut

Independent, UK
20 September 2007 14:59

Antoine Ghanem was an easy target. Few bodyguards, no one would think
that a member of parliament who represented the Armenians of Lebanon
was a target. The little street in which he lived – tall tower blocks,
boutiques, flower shops, was not a place where you would try to kill
an enemy of Syria – if he was an enemy of Syria – but Antoine was
blasted to pieces in his car as he left his home yesterday evening.

And that means there is one left in the government to make up the
numbers. In other words, it only takes one more murder for the
democratically elected government of Lebanon to fall.

Only a few weeks ago, Walid Jumblatt called me after Ghanem’s
predecessor was murdered. "Two more to go, Robert," Walid said. And
so, tonight, it is one.

To describe the tangled wreckage of the car bomb, the vile, obscene,
traces of Mr Ghanem and his bodyguards, has become a kind of routine
horror in Lebanon.

Those of his cortege who did not die took me last night to the
revolting remains of his death.

Lebanon is not a democracy in our Western sense of the word. Nor,
for that matter, is Israel. "Democracy", as we like to call it in
the West, does not sit easily in this part of the world.

But Lebanese politicians – for the most part but not always, men, are
brave folk – who know the cost of standing up for their country against
its more powerful neighbours, be those neighbours Israel or Syria.

There will be few in this country last night – and today – and tomorrow
– who will not see Ghanem’s murder as another attempt by the Syrians
to destroy any form of freedom in this little country. There will be
equally little proof that shows Syria to blame.

The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy – not to mention Gordon Brown –
will not "tut-tut" this outrageous killing, but it is only a few days
before the Lebanese must vote for their next president, and now they
will have one less member of parliament to vote for that president.

And that is what yesterday’s massive car bomb was about. Mr Ghanem,
who was a 60-year-old member of the right-wing Christian Phalange
Party – founded in Lebanon when its leader, Pierre Gemayel, was
inspired by the Nazi Olympics of 1936 – was the eighth anti-Syrian
politician murdered since 2005. His assassination occurred only six
days before parliament in Beirut was to elect a new president.

At least 22 people were wounded in the explosion of the bomb which
killed him in the capital’s Sinal-Fil district. It appeared that the
car bomb was detonated by remote control.

Ghanem’s car was blown at least 150ft away by the explosion. One of
the pro-government ministers Ahmed Fatfat, later said that it was
"clear that lawmakers from the majority party are being liquidated".

It was, he said, "The only regime that does not want presidential
elections in Lebanon to be held. The only response to the crime
should be for parliament to convene on 25 September and to elect
the president.

"Every member who does not take part would be a direct or indirect
participant in the crime."

Lebanese parliamentarians, who now take part in a bidding for next
month’s parliamentary elections, were outdone yesterday by the former
president Amin Gemayel, whose son was assassinated last year. "It’s no
more a question of presidential elections," he said. "It’s a question
of the survival of this country and democracy in the country that’s
at stake for the time being. This criminal act aims at undermining
efforts paid by Syria and others to achieve Lebanese national accord."

BONACIC FOCUSSED ON DOWNING FRONTALE
Written by AFC

Persian Football, CA
Tuesday, 18 September 2007

AFC – ESFAHAN, Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic has said that victory in
Wednesday’s AFC Asian Champions League quarter-final first leg tie
against Kawasaki Frontale is his team’s main objective of their
embryonic season.

Both sides are making their debuts in the knock-out stage of the
competition but Sepahan go into the match at Foolad Shahr Stadium as
the form team.

While the Japanese side have only one win in their last six J.League
matches, ‘The Yellows’ of Esfahan have enjoyed an unbeaten start to
their Iran Pro League season, winning four out of five matches to lie
second in the table on goal difference behind Tehran giants Persepolis.

But Bonacic says that the five domestic league matches have all been
about preparation for Wednesday’s AFC Champions League clash.

"My main objective so far this season has been to beat Kawasaki and
for this reason in all the matches I’ve tried out different styles,"
said the Croat.

"In (our last match against) Fajr Sepasi I spoke with the players
and gave them tasks which they will have to perform against Kawasaki.

"I think they’ve carried out their responsibilities very well and if
everything goes to plan, we will beat Kawasaki."

Despite a flying start to the season and a formidable home record
which saw them winning 12 out of 15 league matches at Foolad Shahr
last season, Sepahan still go into the match with question marks
hanging over their squad.

Three influential players – Armenian goalkeeper and cult hero Armenak
Petrosyan, midfielder Mohammed Nori and forward Hamid Shafiei –
left the club during the off-season while right-back Saeid Bayat is
serving the second of a two-match suspension after being sent off in
their penultimate group stage game against Al Ittihad of Syria.

But perhaps the biggest worry for Bonacic is that their top scorer
in the competition is out of both quarter-final games with a knee
injury. Seyed Mohamad Salehi, who was short-listed last week for the
Asian Player of the Year award, scored four goals as Esfahan become
only the second Iranian club to reach the last eight of the tournament.

The reigning Hazfi Cup holders finished above inaugural AFC Champions
League winners Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi outfit Al
Shabab and Syria’s Al Ittihad in Group D, winning four out of six
matches, which included a memorable 5-0 thrashing of Al Ittihad
in Syria.

In the absence of Salehi, Bonacic will be looking to Mahmoud Karimi
to continue the blistering form which has seen him plunder five goals
in as many matches.

Behind him, playmaker Moharram Navidkia, who seems to have rediscovered
the form which earned him a move to German Bundesliga club Bochum in
2004, is charged with supplying the ammunition for the attack.

Bonacic has warned his defenders to be wary of Kawasaki’s pace up
front but the 52-year-old is clearly focussed on building a lead to
take back to Japan.

"We know a lot about Kawasaki and we know how to attack them. We can
do this effectively through our fast and technical forwards," he added.

ARONYAN SLIPPED DOWN

A1+
[12:08 pm] 19 September, 2007

The World Chess Championship resumed in Mexico after a one-day
interval.

At the fifth round Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan was beaten by
Boris Gelfand. Presently, the Armenian GM shares the 5th-7th places
with Peter Leko and Alexander Morozevich with 2 points each.

Vishvanatan Anand won over Peter Swidler at the fifth round. Currently,
Anand leads the fixture table with 3.5 points.

Peter Leko played a draw with Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grishchuk
won over Alexander Morozevich.

Aronyan’s contender will be Peter Swidler at the sixth round. Provided
Aronyan wins over Swidler, he will have a chance to strive for
leader’s title.

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN ENLARGEMENT OF COOPERATION

A1+
[01:18 pm] 19 September, 2007

Today RA President Robert Kocharian received Mrs. Panayota
Mavrimikhali, the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece, on the
completion of her tenure of office in Armenia.

Robert Kocharian thanking the Ambassador for joint work and assessed
her activity as effective in the development of Armenian-Greece
relations.

The interlocutors referred to the perspectives of bilateral relations,
noting that there is a large field for enlargement of cooperation. They
particularly emphasized the programs of cooperation in the fields
of agriculture and defense. According to the President, Armenia is
interested in the experience of Greece in the sphere of tourism and
developing it in our country.

PUBLICS ARE NOT INVOLVED

KarabakhOpen
19-09-2007 10:10:25

An international conference entitled European Security and the South
Caucasus was held in Armenia on September 13 to 16. The event was
organized by CONCORD (Armenia) and funded by the foreign ministry
of Finland.

The ambassadors of Finland, France, Poland, India, Ukraine,
representatives of the OSCE, Turkey, scholars from Russia,
representatives of Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh,
Abkhazian and South Ossetian NGOs participated in the conference. From
NKR, the director of the Civic Action Center NGO Albert Voskanyan
was invited.

The conference discussed the policy of the European community and
stability in the South Caucasus, security in the South Caucasus and
a new Europe, the conflicts and new relations in the South Caucasus
and other questions.

Albert Voskanyan said in his speech 13 years have passed since the
war ended but there is still potential for a peace settlement. "The
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet and discuss the options…

Apparently, however, none of the sides involves the public in
conflict solution. One of the sides is ready to use force to resolve
the conflict, the other is ready to defend itself. These are not the
right stances since we are wasting precious time: work with publics
could go on along with the peace talks. Sooner or later the presidents
will sign peace, meanwhile the publics and not the presidents are to
observe the points of the document," said Albert Voskanyan.

Recently a group of Armenian and Azerbaijani activists visited
NKR, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which was much like a secret military
operation, and the publics of these countries learned about it after
the visit, the human rights activist added.

REVITALIZING TURKISH-US STRATEGIC TIES DEPENDS ON SOLVING SOME STICKY ISSUES
Ilnur Cevik

New Anatolian, Turkey
19 September 2007

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns will
hold talks with Turkish leaders today to seek ways to "revitalize"
the strategic relationship between Ankara and Washington.

The no.3 official of the State Department arrived in Istanbul Monday
night and has spent Tuesday in Istanbul. He flew to Ankara later
Tuesday.

In Istanbul Burns met with members of the Parliament during an iftar,
and with religious leaders, students, and civil society activists.

The U.S. State Department has said Burns will discuss a range of
strategic issues with the new Turkish government and reaffirm the
great importance the U.S. attaches to its alliance with Turkey.

This will be the first in a series of high-level meetings between
the United States and the new Turkish government that will take place
this autumn, stated the Department.

In Ankara, Burns will meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and senior members of the Foreign Ministry and Parliament.

Burns has already given hints about the issues to be taken up with
Turkish leaders during his address to the Atlantic Council of the
United States in Washington last week.

Iraq is a sticky issue between Turkey and the U.S.

While Americans are happy to see Turkish efforts to keep Iraq intact
Ankara is now questioning America’s future plans about the Kurds
of Iraq.

The Kurdish puzzle —————————–ARA BASLIK

Ankara is angered with the presence of the PKK terrorists in the
northern mountains of Iraq in areas controlled by the autonomous
Kurdish administration.

PKK terrorists use the area to launch terrorist attacks into
Turkey. Ankara says the Americans have not been able to help to
convince the Iraqi Kurds not to allow the PKK to feel at home in the
northern provinces.

Some circles in Ankara see growing American favoritism towards
the Kurdish administration in Erbil that governs the northern
provinces. There are signs that the U.S. may turn a blind eye to
Kurdish independence.

Ankara is against Kurdish independence as it fears this could encourage
secessionism among Turkey’s Kurds living in the neighboring region
of southeastern Turkey.

Earlier this month, the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) announced
that it had signed a production-sharing deal with Texas-based Hunt
Oil. The move is an indication that Western oil companies, frustrated
over the delay in the passage of a national oil law by the Iraqi
government, are moving to make deals with regional bodies to get
access to Iraq’s vast oil reserves.

As significant as the deal itself is the identity of the company
involved. Ray Hunt, the CEO and president of privately held Hunt Oil,
is a close confidant of President Bush and a prominent figure in the
US political and intelligence establishment.

To what extent the policy of the Bush administration is motivating
the deal-and to what extent it is motivated by purely profit
interests-cannot be determined. However, the announcement comes at
a time of growing strains between the Iraqi federal government, led
by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and the Bush administration. Many
commentators have noted that the moves by Kurdish authorities to
establish autonomy in the control of the region’s oil resources could
contribute to a fracturing of the Iraqi state along sectarian lines.

Hussain al-Shahristani, the Iraqi oil minister in the Maliki cabinet,
denounced the agreement, saying, "Any oil deal has no standing as
far as the government of Iraq is concerned. All these contracts have
to be approved by the Federal Authority before they are legal. This
[contract] was not presented for approval.

It has no standing."

Turkey wants to know if Washington will sacrifice its strategic
relations with Ankara for an independent Kurdish state. This will
be one of the vital questions that Turks will seek an answer when
Burns talks to Turkish officials and in the other high level meetings
between the two countries.

What to do with Iran? ———————- ARA BASLIK

The other sticky issue that Ankara and Washington have to resolve
is what to do with Iran. The Americans are visibly annoyed with
Turkey’s growing relations with the Iranians. Turkey and Iran have
recently signed a major energy deal where Turkey will develop the
rich Iranian natural gas fields and also build a pipeline to sell
Iranian gas to Europe.

The U.S. feels as long as Iran does not abandon its nuclear program
it will remain a major "target."

Recent events where Israelis allegedly made trial runs over Syria
to hit Iranian nuclear facilities with allegedly the blessing of
Washington and other statements coming out of the U.S. suggest that
the Americans are considering a military option against Iran.

Burns has told the Atlantic Council that in this area while
U.S. appreciates Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to tame Iran there is
a difference of opinion on how to handle the Tehran file.

Burns said "the United States and Turkey still need to work out some
tactical differences in handling Iran.

We understand that Iran is a neighbor of Turkey and key trading
partner, which sends over a million tourists to Turkey each
year. Turkey’s recent conclusion of a memorandum on energy cooperation
with Iran, however, is troubling. Now is not the time for business
as usual with Iran. We urge all of our friends and allies, including
Turkey, to not reward Iran by investing in its oil and gas sector,
while Iran continues to defy the United Nations Security Council by
continuing its nuclear research for a weapons capability."

Other sticky issues ————————— ARA BASLIK

Turkeys feels it has to face the realities in Cyprus and seek a
solution that will also eliminate some of the serious obstacles for
its European Union membership.

The Greek Cypriots who are a member of the EU have been effectively
blocking Turkey’s accession process.

Turkey has to open its ports and airfields to the Greek Cypriots,
a move that would create havoc for the Erdogan government at home.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders have met to revive the July 8,
2006 process but the impasse continues.

The U.S. has moved to help the Turkish Cypriots and ease their
international isolation while the EU has been reluctant to follow
course. Ankara expects the Americans to put pressure on the Greek
Cypriots to be more facilitating.

A strong Greek Cypriot lobby is making life difficult for Turkey
in Washington. But that is the least of Ankara’s worries. There is
even a stronger lobby in Washington that is seriously threatening
Turkish-American ties: The Armenians.

A move by the Armenians to legislate a congressional bill that will
recognize the acts of 1915 as genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks
against Armenians is pending. Turks are up in arms and the American
administration has told the U.S. Congress such moves will seriously
bilateral relations.

But it is clear that the U.S. administration is really tired of having
to contain a fire that erupts every April with the Armenians pushing
for revenge and the Turks threatening the U.S. with serious damage
to ties.

Americans say Turkey should open its borders with Armenia is a move
to reconciliation. But Turks feel such a move will not blunt the
antagonism of the Armenian diasporas in northern America and Europe
that are calling for revenge.

Turkey and the U.S. also do not see eye to eye over the reek Orthodox
Church in Istanbul. The Americans regard the church as ecumenical
while Turkey says it is only a regional church.

On the Middle East Turkey sees a major danger of new conflicts in the
Middle East if Iraq is allowed to collapse. Turkey sees the danger
of a major confrontation between the Iran inspired Shiites of the
region and the Sunni Arab axis formed by Iraqi Arabs, Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Syria and Gulf Arabs.

Turks feel they can help in the Middle East peace process with their
special relationship with Israel and their close contacts with Syria
and the Palestinians. But Turks feel the confrontation between Shiites
and the Arab axis could be a nightmare.

Americans also have to understand that the Arabs reject the Turkish
version of moderate Islam where a party with Islamic roots can support
secularism and modernization. So while Turkey remains a unique Islamic
model that can blend into the western civilization there are clear
indications that this model will not be adopted by the Arabs.

Turkish and American leaders will have to address these issues as
they set the stage for rejuvenating the strategic relationship.

8547 PEOPLE COMPENSATED AGAINST DEPOSITS THIS YEAR

Panorama.am
15:35 18/09/2007

This year 8547 people got compensated against their deposits,
methodological assistance division head of the ministry of employment
and social issues, Armen Margaryan, told Panorama.am.

Since last year 1 bln Armenian drams have been allocated from the
state budget to make compensations to people who have made deposits
at Armenian Savings Bank and are in the list of state allowances. In
the words of Margaryan, 649 bln has been spent out of 1 bln. He also
said about 2000 citizens will get compensations against deposits by
the end of the year.

SECOND PAGAN TEMPLE AFTER GARNI DISCOVERED IN ARMENIA

Zee News, India
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Yerevan, Sept 18: Armenian archaeologists have discovered the second
pagan temple in Armenia after Garni.

The temple was found 5.5 metres underground not far from the modern
town of Artashat, about 30 kilometres to the south-east of Yerevan.

Experts say it is devoted to Mihr – the God of the Sun in Armenian
mythology.

The temple – the symbol of Sun-worship was built near Artashat which
maintained its status the longest among the capitals of Armenia –
from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD, said archaeologist
Zhores Khachatryan.

"By discovering the remains of the temple we found out that the temple
was even more gorgeous and beautiful than Garni. That means we have
found a big historical wealth that needs being kept by all means,"
said the 72-year-old Khachatryan, the coordinator of the archaeological
expedition team.

The expedition comprised of 15 workers of the Institute of Archaeology
and Ethnography. The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia had
begun the excavations of the territory of capital Artashat in
the 1970s. Before that Soviet authorities prohibited large-scale
excavations in territories bordering Turkey.

Khachatryan said the findings revealed that Artshat occupied about
400 hectares of territory and had a population of about 150,000 in
its heyday, and the fortification walls of the city stretched for
more than 10,000 metres.

According to armenianow.com, the town founded on 12 hills in the
neighbourhood of Khor Virap built on the place of the temple devoted
to the goddess of maternity and fertility Anahit.

It used to be a big centre of commerce, and more than 1,000 types of
the seals have been found at the site, the report said.

"All the studies show Artashat was built in accord with a regular and
a planned design project. However, unfortunately, we cannot research
all the hills: the heart of Artashat was built on the marble ore
that has been blown up for many times and has equalled that part
[of the city] to ground," said Khachatryan.

Khachatryan said the archaeological team has also managed to find the
public bathhouse of Artshat with its seven rooms 75 square meters each.

"There is a mosaic floor and a tiny brook, bases and pools with
beautiful ornaments have been found. Also a toilet with sewage system
with more than 2,000 years of history, something you can’t find even
in modern-day villages, was found," he said.

"We knew from the very beginning there was a temple that was destroyed
during the reign of King Tiridates in the 4th century, in times
Christianity was spread.

But we didn’t know where exactly it was and what was its size,"
he added.

SWEDISH ARMENIAN IS ASHAMED OF ARMENIA

A1+
[05:13 pm] 17 September, 2007

"We shall have to adopt a new strategy in case the party members
don’t increase," Swedish Armenian Murad Artun, a Swedish deputy and
"Left Feminist" Party member, told A1+. He moved to Sweden 22 years
ago and a year later became a party member.

The party is comprised of 13000 members. It is four years the party
has been cooperating with the Armenian People’s Party (HZhK).

The HZhK also thinks highly of the mutual collaboration.

The "Left Feminist" Party is discontent with the recent elections
of the Swedish parliament. The party has 13 female and 9 male
representatives in the parliament, while in 1998 the party had 43
mandates.

Murad Artin is concerned over women’s engagement into Armenia’s
political-social life. "I am ashamed of women’s state in Armenia. Even
in Turkey women form 25 per cent of the parliament"

"Democracy is nonsense without women and youth," said "Left Feminist"
International Conference members. The conference was held in
Tsakhkadzor and was organised by the HZhK and Swedish "Left Feminist"
Party.

It is due to mention that the party supports male and female equality
rather than protects women’s rights.