Author: Babajanian Karo

Hovik Abrahamyan’s Plan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:20:30 – 12/05/2012

We have learned that Hovik Abrahamyan, N 3 on the Republican list, is
doing everything he can to have his brother Jonik Abrahamyan enter the
parliament. The latter had been accepted neither by the RPA, nor
Prosperous Armenia. Hence, he has drafted an interesting plan. Hovik’s
cousin Karine Poghosyan was elected to parliament from the
constituency 17. According to his plan, Poghosyan will be appointed
minister of education and science, and Jonik Abrahamyan runs in the
by-election in the same constituency.

Sunday: 60 Minutes Story on Turkish Gulen Charter Schools in US

Preview: The Gulen Movement

May 10, 2012 1:02 PM

A worldwide Islamic movement that has inspired scores of public charter
schools here in the U.S. is led by a Turkish cleric living in the Pocono
Mountains of Pennsylvania. Lesley Stahl reports on Fethullah Gulen and his
message of education on Sunday, May 13 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Meet `the Most Dangerous Islamist on Planet Earth’ He lives in
Pennsylvania

Newly released Wikileaks documents show increased concern among U.S.
officials of the Gulen Movement Meet `the Most Dangerous Islamist on Planet
Earth’ He lives in Pennsylvania

By Dr. Paul L. Williams Monday, March 21, 2011

[image: image]The latest documents from Wikileaks shows growing concern
among U. S. officials over Fethullah Gulen’s attempts to create a New
Islamic World and the `braining washing of students’ that takes place at
his charter schools within the United States and throughout the Muslim
world.

The cable that speaks of the `brain-washing’ was written in 2009 by James
Jeffrey, the U. S. Ambassador to Turkey.

In the cable, Mr. Jeffrey describes Gülen as a `political phenomena’
in
Turkey even when he resides `in exile’ within a mountain fortress in
Pennsylvania. He says the Gülen movement has gained control of Turkey’s
government and dictates Turkish policy which has become increasing
anti-Israeli and anti-American. It points out that the leaders of the
Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma or AKP) who now govern
Turkey, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President
Abdullah Gul, appear to serve as Gulen’s puppets.

Other newly released cables state that Gulen’s disciples now direct the
country’s 200,000 strong police force – – a force that remains in conflict
with the military, which sees the group as an enemy.

In recent months, Turkish military leaders, and other critics of the AKP,
have been arrested in the dead of night and whisked off to detention cells.

According to NurettinVeren, who served as Fethullah Gulen’s right-hand man
`There are imam security directors; imams wearing police uniforms. Many
police commissioners get their orders from imams.’

`It is not possible to confirm the Turkish police are under the control of
the Gülen community members, but we have not met anybody who denies it,’
one cable said.
The most dangerous Islamist on planet earth

Gulen has been labeled `the most dangerous Islamist on planet earth,’
although he has failed to attract the attention of U. S. counter-terrorism
experts and the national media.

Gülen is a student and follower of Sheikh Sa’id-i Kurdi (1878-1960), also
known as Sa’id-i Nursi, the founder of the Islamist Nur (light) movement.
After Turkey’s war of independence, Kurdi demanded, in an address to the
new parliament, that the new republic be based on Islamic principles. Kurdi
turned against Atatürk and his reforms and against the new modern, secular,
Western republic and Gulen has followed his militant mentor’s example.

Hailed as an outstanding educator by Graham Fuller and other CIA officials,
the reclusive Gulen is semi-literate and lacks a high school diploma.

In 1999, he was driven from his native Turkey because of his attempts to
overthrow the secular Turkish government.
Objectives of transforming Turkey into an Islam republic and of creating a
New Islamic World Order

In his sermons, Gulen has stated his objectives of transforming Turkey into
an Islam republic and of creating a New Islamic World Order. In one sermon,
he said:

`You must move in the arteries of the system without anyone noticing your
existence until you reach all the power centers – until the conditions are
ripe, they [the followers] must continue like this. If they do something
prematurely, the world will crush our heads, and Muslims will suffer
everywhere, like in the tragedies in Algeria, like in 1982 [in] Syria –
like in the yearly disasters and tragedies in Egypt. The time is not yet
right. You must wait for the time when you are complete and conditions are
ripe, until we can shoulder the entire world and carry it – You must wait
until such time as you have gotten all the state power, until you have
brought to your side all the power of the constitutional institutions in
Turkey – Until that time, any step taken would be too early – like breaking
an egg without waiting the full forty days for it to hatch. It would be
like killing the chick inside. The work to be done is [in] confronting the
world. Now, I have expressed my feelings and thoughts to you all – in
confidence – trusting your loyalty and secrecy. I know that when you leave
here – [just] as you discard your empty juice boxes, you must discard the
thoughts and the feelings that I expressed here.

He continued:

When everything was closed and all doors were locked, our houses of isik
[light] assumed a mission greater than that of older times. In the past,
some of the duties of these houses were carried out by madrasas [Islamic
schools], some by schools, some by tekkes [Islamist lodges] – These isik
homes had to be the schools, had to be madrasas, [had to be] tekkes all at
the same time. The permission did not come from the state, or the state’s
laws, or the people who govern us. The permission was given by God – who
wanted His name learned and talked about, studied, and discussed in those
houses, as it used to be in the mosques.

In another sermon, Gülen proclaimed:

Now it is a painful spring that we live in. A nation is being born again. A
nation of millions [is] being born – one that will live for long centuries,
God willing – It is being born with its own culture, its own civilization.
If giving birth to one person is so painful, the birth of millions cannot
be pain-free. Naturally we will suffer pain. It won’t be easy for a nation
that has accepted atheism, has accepted materialism, a nation accustomed to
running away from itself, to come back riding on its horse. It will not be
easy, but it is worth all our suffering and the sacrifices.

In 1998, Gulen fled to the U.S. with a small army of followers and
purchased a 45 acre parcel of land in the midst of Pennsylvania’s Pocono
Mountains as a base for his international operations.

>From this base, Gulen, who has amassed over $25 billion in assets,
continues to direct the activities of the AKP and events throughout Central
Asia and much of the Muslim world.

Under his direction, Turkey has transformed from a secular state into an
Islamic country with 85,000 active mosques – – one for every 350- citizens
– – the highest number per capita in the world, 90,000 imams, more imams
than teachers and physicians – – and thousands of state-run Islamic schools.
Turkey, thanks to Gulen and his disciples, has transferred its alliance
from Europe and the United States to Russia and Iran

Despite the rhetoric of European Union accession, Turkey, thanks to Gulen
and his disciples, has transferred its alliance from Europe and the United
States to Russia and Iran. It has moved toward friendship with Hamas,
Hezbollah, and Syria and created a pervasive anti-Christian, anti-Jewish,
and anti-America animus throughout the populace.

Gulen has also established thousands of schools throughout central Asia and
Europe.

According to Bayram Balci, a Turkish scholar, the Gulen schools seek to
expand `the Islamization of Turkish nationality and the Turification
of
Islam’ in order to bring about a universal caliphate ruled by Islamic law.

Because of their subversive nature of these institutions, these schools
have been outlawed in Russia and Uzbekistan.

Even the Netherlands, a nation that embraces pluralism and tolerance, has
opted to cut funding to the Gulen schools because of their imminent threat
to the social order.

But Gulen’s 140-plus schools in the United States which advance the
establishment of a New Islamic World Order have received little national
attention.

These schools bear such innocuous names as the Magnolia School, the Beehive
Academy, the Sonoran Science Academy, the Lotus School for Excellence, and
the Pacific Technology School.

All of these schools are funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Want to know more about Gulen, his plans for your children, and the growing
threat?

Stay tuned to Canada Free Press.

© Canada Free Press

[image: Author]

Dr. Paul L. Williams
Bio

Dr. Paul L. Williams Most recent
columns

Paul L. Williams, Ph.D., is the author of such best-selling books as The
Day of Islam, The Al Qaeda Connection, Osama’s Revenge: The Next 9/11, The
Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Crusades and The Vatican Exposed. An
award-winning journalist, he is a frequent guest on such national news
networks as ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, MSNBC, and NPR. Williams operates
from his blog thelastcrusade.org

Gulen in MEMRI :

Fethullah Gulen is thought to be one of the richest Turks in the world. He
lives on a large estate in Pennsylvania, and it is from there that he runs
his million-member community. The prevailing perception in political
circles in Turkey is that Fethullah Gulen is the power behind many Islamist
politicians, especially in the AKP.

In 1999, footage was aired on Turkish television of sermons delivered by
Fethullah Gulen to a crowd of followers, in which he revealed his
aspirations for an Islamist Turkey ruled by shari’a as well as the
methods that should be used to attain that goal. In the sermons, he said:

“You must move in the arteries of the system, without anyone noticing your
existence, until you reach all the power centers- until the conditions are
ripe, they [the followers] must continue like this. If they do something
prematurely, the world will crush our heads, and Muslims will suffer
everywhere, like in the tragedies in Algeria, like in 1982 [in] Syria- like
in the yearly disasters and tragedies in Egypt. The time is not yet right.
You must wait for the time when you are complete, and conditions are ripe,
until we can shoulder the entire world and carry it- You must wait until
such time as you have gotten all the state power, until you have brought to
your side all the power of the constitutional institutions in Turkey- Until
that time, any step taken would be too early – like breaking an egg without
waiting the full 40 days for it to hatch. It would be like killing the
chick inside. The work to be done is [in] confronting the world. Now, I
have expressed my feelings and thoughts to you all – in confidence-
trusting your loyalty and sensitivity to secrecy. I know that when you
leave here – [just] as you discard your empty juice boxes, you must discard
the thoughts and feelings expressed here.”

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ADDRESSES THE DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY OF ISFAHAN, IRAN

On the occasion of the pontifical visit of H.H. Aram I, the diocesan
Assembly together with the executive committee and related committees met on
Friday 11 May to hear the message of their spiritual leader.

In His pastoral message Catholicos Aram I outlined the major aspects and
significant features of his pontifical visit, emphasizing the necessity to
engage in dialogue with the faithful: “The church acquires its true meaning
as a community of faith, love and prayer by entering in interaction with the
people. The clergy should listen to his people; should know their needs and
expectations in order to carry on his witness in a meaningful and
responsible way”, affirmed His Holiness.

Then the Catholicos identified three areas of major concern: “first to
remain faithful to our Christian values and engage in a critical and
mutually learning interaction with our environment. Second, to engage our
community structures in a renewal and restructuring process in response to
changing times and realities. Third, to use the technology of information
and communication in a more efficient way for the promotion of our
Armenian-Christian spiritual and moral values”.

The message of His Holiness was followed by a question – answer period.
##
Photos:

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, May 11, 2012

Hye Geen’s 7th Annual Conference Uses Arts and Design to Connect
Southern California Students with Armenian Heritage

This spring, AGBU Hye Geen brought together some of the leading voices
in the arts and design industry for its 7th annual interdisciplinary
conference series, `The Status of Armenian Communities Living in the
United States.’ Coordinated by Hye Geen’s Young Circle, the 2012 event
was held on Saturday, March 10, at Woodbury University in Southern
California and was organized under the heading of `Symbolism in Art,
Architecture and Design.’

The conference, which was moderated by Cynthia Kossayan, a researcher
at the Los Angeles architecture firm Karten Design, explored the ways
Armenian heritage has been preserved through the decorative arts for
centuries. Subjects ranging from the designs of ancient Armenian
churches to modern art were presented by six distinguished panelists,
including Narineh Mirzaeian, lecturer and architect at Gehry Partners;
Aram Alajajian, the Yerevan-born principal of Alajajian-Marcoosi
Architects; Haig Messerlian, AGBU Western District Committee chairman;
Sona Yacoubian, Hye Geen founder and chairwoman; Hratch Kozibeyokian,
a textile specialist and owner of the carpet store Ko’Z’Craft; and
Peter Frank, art critic and associate editor of Fabrik Magazine.

The conference’s opening remarks were delivered by Ani Khachoyan, a
member of Hye Geen’s Young Circle, and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church. In his welcome,
he applauded AGBU Hye Geen for creating forums to discuss the diverse
perspectives of Armenian culture, and its continuous efforts to
connect with youth. This year’s event proved to be no exception, as
the various panelists engaged an audience filled with students. The
first speaker, Mirzaeian, introduced them to the role of symbolism in
design trends and everyday life in Armenia through her presentation,
`Random Acts of Design.’ Both symbols and geometric shapes were
surveyed in the second lecture, `Symbolism in Armenian Architecture –
Past and Present,’ by Alajajian, who examined the prototype of
Katahunj, the oldest known Armenian observatory (circa 7000 B.C.), and
the ways it inspired his award-winning design of the St. Gregory
Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, California.

The illustrative presentations underscored the ways AGBU Hye Geen,
which was established in 1994 to advocate for Armenian women, has
broadened the scope of its work in recent years. Messerlian, the
event’s third speaker, praised Hye Geen’s major cultural and social
projects in Armenia and the US, and commended it for being `an
organization that not only focuses on empowering Armenian women, but
also sponsors exciting and daring conferences, always speaks with an
original voice, and encourages our audiences not only to just look and
hear, but also to see and listen, to make a connection, and a
difference.’ Yacoubian, who has led AGBU Hye Geen for almost two
decades, pointed to the ways Armenian youth can continue to make a
difference in their communities, urging them to learn more about their
cultural heritage through design.

In her remarks, she stated, `the Armenian Highlands have inspired our
architects and sculptors to design our monasteries and churches and
khatchkars. The landscape and colors of the rich flora of our homeland
have inspired our painters. And, Armenian history has influenced our
craftsmen, silversmiths, jewelers, and rug weavers to incorporate
Armenian symbols.’ The use of those symbols was detailed by the fifth
speaker, Kozibeyokian, whose presentation, `Iconography in Armenian
Woven Art,’ focused on shapes within textiles and their historical use
in sacred Armenian rituals, royal ceremonies, and domestic
life. Transporting the audience to a more recent period, Frank, the
conference’s final panelist, gave his presentation, `Caucasian
Standard Time: Armenian-Americans and California Art in the Postwar
Era,’ which built on, and brought an Armenian perspective to, the
recent Getty Center festival `Pacific-Standard Time: Art in
L.A. 1945-1980.’ He invoked the work of Armenian-American artists such
as John Altoon and Paul Sarkissian, who helped usher in a cultural
revival in California in the second half of the 20th century.

To conclude the conference, Nare Gabrielian, the head of Woodbury
University’s Armenian Student Association, announced the winners of
the Architecture Department’s recent design competition, which drew
submissions from many of the school’s Armenian students.

The conference was one of Hye Gee’s numerous initiative targeting
young adults. On Saturday, May 5, it also organized the presentation,
`Youth and the Search for Fulfillment’ at the AGBU Pasadena Center. It
featured Cynthia Kossayan, Yeghig L. Keshishian, Virginia Gulesserian,
and Sarmen Keshishian, all recent graduates or current students, who
were joined by Salpi A. Garavaryan and Charles Pilavian,
Ph.D. Together, they discussed some of the challenges facing youth in
the diaspora, and the importance of living as an Armenian American as
opposed to an American Armenian. Praising the prevalence of family
values, they also pointed to the key role that education plays in
producing strong leadership in the community. The event drew a crowd
of close to a hundred attendees.

Since 1994, AGBU Hye Geen in Southern California () has
worked to preserve and honor achievements of Armenian women, provide a
forum for them throughout the world, promote their role in family and
society through research, education, and advocacy, and provide overall
support to empower Armenian women as carriers of the Armenian cultural
heritage.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

11 May 2012

ACNIS Looks at the Issue of Civil Society’s Role

Yerevan–Today’s lecture at the youth school of the Armenian Center
for National and International Studies (ACNIS) was devoted to the role
of civil society in the process of democratization. The guest speaker
was Armen Grigoryan, Chairman of the `Democracy for Development’
NGO. During the presentation the facts derived from the experience
added spice to his thorough speech.

This workshop came to be the eight session in the spring semester 2012
of the seminar-course program, entitled `Establishment of Civil
Society and Formation of Constitutional State in Armenia: Key Issues
and New Challenges,’ and, to note, the first one in the subsection on
`Key Issues of Democratization in Armenia and Artsakh.’

ACNIS youth school, as previously announced, holds its seminars on a
weekly basis. Twenty four participants–endowed with an analytical
bent of mind and expert-level reasoning skills–attend the program.

——————————————————————

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past fifteen years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT: CERTAIN FORCES USE ARMENIA TO DESTABILIZE REGION

Trend
May 10 2012
Azerbaijan

Today, certain forces are not interested in creating a democratic
society in Armenia, but rather use it as a weapon to destabilize
the region, Committee on Foreign Relations and Inter-Parliamentary
Relations of the Azerbaijani Parliament Chairman Samed Seyidov said
on Thursday.

“So I would not be surprised if an international organization or one
of the leading nations of the world will speak positively about the
parliamentary elections in Armenia,” he said.

Samadov noted that the current government of Armenia is not only
unable to hold democratic elections, but have no such desire.

“And the attitude to the parliamentary elections in Armenia may be
different. If it will be positive – do not be surprised. And even
if some international organizations will express a negative opinion
about the elections, it will be only for appearance sake,” he said.

Seyidov noted that, in general, international organizations assess
the parliamentary elections in Armenia as positive, because they
don’t interested in creation a democratic society, but want to use
Armenia for their own purposes.

THE CHANGES IN PARIS AND ATHENS ARE NO GOOD FOR US
by Mehmet Ali Birand

Hurriyet Daily News
May 9 2012
Turkey

The recent elections in France and Greece should be a lesson for all
of us. The economic crisis has caused the people to take revenge on
the politicians. The reason Sarkozy lost with a margin of 3 per cent
is the anger of voters at becoming poor, nothing else. The situation
is no different in Greece.

All of the politicians in office were badly beaten.

What’s more, the confusion in both countries is likely to continue for
a long time. They may be due for new elections and new fluctuations.

How will these changes affect Turkey? Let’s take a look.

The only positive side of the change in France is that Hollande was
elected, a leader who does not have an anti-Turkey obsession like
Sarkozy’s. But don’t count on that. Hollande is not against Turkey’s
full membership in the EU in principle. He does not question Turkey’s
European-ness like Sarkozy does.

However, he does place the condition of the acceptance of the
“Armenian Genocide” on Turkey’s membership, and this stance is not
one that can be overcome easily. In short, this change in Paris will
not make a significant difference to Turkey’s relations with the EU.

Hollande’s presidency is likely to end and not continue at the end
of his 5-year term.

The situation is more complicated in Athens. The beating the
politicians got was as bad as the one our leaders took in our 2002
elections. In Greece, a coalition period has started and the economic
chaos looks as though will not be solved easily. Also, there is talk
of holding early elections next June. In other words, there is an
impasse. This situation bothers me.

I fear that the rising militarist and extreme-right parties in Greece
will turn towards Turkey after a while.

I wonder, to overcome the frustration they are immersed in, whether
they will begin focusing on Turkey? Will they make Turkey their
“joint enemy”? This is possible and there is such a risk. However,
the Greeks have so many problems nowadays that it looks as if they
will not turn towards us.

AZERBAIJAN AND ISRAEL WORK AGAINST IRAN

Pravda

May 10 2012
Russia

Mass media continues to debate on the topic of the rapprochement of
Israel and Azerbaijan. The scandalous publication in the US-based
Foreign Policy about the alleged transfer of an Azeri military
airfield to the disposal of the Israeli military has caused quite a
controversy. In late April, officials of the two states were quick
to refute the rumors about the possible use of the country for an
attack on Iran.

Baku denied the transfer of the abandoned military base to third
countries. Tel Aviv flatly denied the rumors as well. Israeli Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the rumors about the use of IDF
airbase “Sitalchay” are spread by people with rich imagination. “The
press publishes a lot of speculation,” Jewish.ru quoted the Foreign
Minister.

Nonetheless, Lieberman immediately after the completion of his April
visit to Baku acknowledged that the “Iranian issue” was discussed at a
meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. The Minister did not disclose the
details of the talks. This “diplomatic game” is beneficial for both
Israel and Azerbaijan. Both parties prefer not to disclose to their
likely opponents the details of the mutually beneficial cooperation
(including the military sphere). Many Israeli experts talk openly
about the importance of a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.

However, Baku continues to count on the understanding and support from
Tel Aviv in resolving regional disputes. The Armenian-Azeri conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh is far from final resolution. Statements by
Israeli officials to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
suggest that Tel Aviv shares the position of Baku on the Karabakh
issue.

Of great interest to the Azeri armed forces is Israeli military
equipment. In conditions of rapid economic growth, the rearmament
of the country that gained independence only two decades ago has
been given more attention. Having exhausted the possibilities of the
European arms markets, Azerbaijan appealed to Israel.

The scale of military-technical cooperation between Tel Aviv and Baku
was revealed in secret documents published on the website Wikileaks.

“Thanks to close ties with Israel, Azerbaijan has access to a new
level of arms for the development of their own army. This equipment
cannot be obtained either from the U.S. or Europe due to various legal
restrictions, or from the ex-Soviet suppliers from Belarus and Ukraine.

Where the rest of the West is afraid to sell the land combat systems
to Azerbaijan out of fear to cause a fresh outbreak of the war for the
possession of the lands of Nagorno-Karabakh, Israel is free to contract
for a substantial supply of arms and benefit from a rich client.

In September of 2008, Azerbaijan has quietly signed with the Israeli
Ministry of Defense a large agreement that allows local companies to
supply three mortars, ammunition, rocket launchers and communications
equipment. The company “Soltam” was awarded a contract for the supply
of mortars and ammunition, “Tadiran Communications” will provide
communication devices, and the “Israeli Military Industries” will
provide the rockets.

It offers a wide range of rocket artillery, methods of upgrading
the old Soviet 122-mm systems “Grad” (BM-21), guidance systems for
122-300-millimeter rockets and launch vehicles for the 300-millimeter
rockets, analytical agency “Novosti Armenia” reported. Even then,
military contracts have been signed for hundreds of millions of
dollars. In 2011, local media reported the beginning of production
of Israeli drones on the territory of Azerbaijan.

New data on arms transfers from Israel have been recently published
in several media outlets. In February of 2012 Azerbaijan has agreed
to pay the state company “Israel Aerospace Industries” $1.6 billion
for a wide range of military products, including unmanned aircraft and
antiaircraft and antimissile defense system – according to the portal
“The Armenian News” referring to the Northwest Arkansas Times.

However, the head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Avigor
Lieberman during his visit to Baku in late April said that the
information about the development of close military cooperation between
the countries does not correspond to reality. At an official meeting
with the Azeri colleagues the bilateral cooperation in education,
medicine and agriculture was discussed. In addition, Azerbaijan is
the largest supplier of oil to Israel. Bilateral trade reached a
record four billion dollars.

Rapprochement of Tel Aviv and Baku causes unconcealed irritation
in Tehran. The relations between Azerbaijan and Iran deteriorated
continuously, and in early 2012 the Iranian authorities summoned the
Azeri ambassador to Tehran Foreign Ministry in connection with the
reports that the Azeri government allows Israeli Mossad agents to
gather information along the Azeri-Iranian border, Northwest Arkansas
Times reported.

Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic is trying to keep good relations
with Azerbaijan the majority of whose population is of Muslim faith.

Ironically, the current balance of power can still maintain a “poor
peace” in the region. For Armenia it would not be beneficial to wage
a war in Karabakh, as in this case the Armenian armed forces would
have to deal with the Azeri army that has received military assistance
from the Israelis.

At the same time, the Azeri “hawks” understand that in a case of war
for the return of the lost territories, Armenia may receive strong
support from Russia and Iran. It is important to remember that
Azerbaijan is perhaps the only reliable regional partner of Israel
surrounded by hostile Arab states. Therefore, Tel Aviv will continue
to further strengthen the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan.

Yuri Sosinsky-Semikhat

Pravda.Ru

COTLER: WAR CRIMINALS AREN’T BEING BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
By Irwin Cotler

Calgary Herald

May 10 2012
Canada

T.S. Eliot famously called April “the cruellest month,” and indeed,
last month we marked the anniversaries of the Rwandan genocide,
Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day – as well as the Armenian
genocide and the Srebrenica massacre.

All of these events began in April, and in respect of that, April
has now been designated as Genocide Prevention Month.

Yet, as we remember the victims, it also bears reminder that many
of the greatest war criminals of the 20th century have not been
held to account for their unspeakable crimes. Indeed, there is
evidence that a significant number of these criminals reside here
in Canada. In particular, on this 18th anniversary of the Rwandan
genocide, Rwanda’s prosecutor general, Martin Ngoga, reported that
many suspected genocidaires today call Canada home, something that
the former Rwandan minister of justice, Jean de Dieu Mucyo, affirmed
in conversations with me.

What is true for Rwandan fugitives is no doubt true for fugitives from
other killing fields. Indeed, the Canadian Centre for International
Justice estimates that approximately 2,000 alleged war criminals and
major criminal human rights violators currently reside in Canada.

Canada was at the vanguard of the international fight against
impunity, when – over a decade ago – our government took the lead
in the establishment of an International Criminal Court, worked
to secure the necessary ratifications to bring the ICC treaty into
effect, and enacted the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act,
with all-party support, in implementation of the ICC treaty – a
landmark initiative that became a model for other jurisdictions.

Regrettably, however, the Canadian War Crimes Program, which was
intended to ensure that Canada would never be a base or sanctuary
for these enemies of humanity, is today seriously underfunded,
underutilized, and, as such, simply unable to carry out effective,
proper investigations and prosecutions of suspected war criminals.

The figures speak for themselves: The government’s war crimes program
budget has not had its seriously underfunded annual $15.6-million
budget increased since it was established in 1998. It is not
nearly enough money to carry out complex domestic and overseas
investigations, contributing therefore, to a near total absence of
domestic prosecutions in Canada.

Accordingly, rather than prosecute war criminals domestically as
initially envisaged, the government has resorted to deporting suspects,
a wholly inadequate remedy, and one that risks undermining the cause
of justice and the struggle against impunity.

For when Canada prosecutes international crimes domestically –
under the principle of universal jurisdiction underpinning our war
crimes legislation – it sends a powerful message that not only will
Canada not serve as a base or sanctuary, but that war criminals are
on notice that they will enjoy neither immunity nor impunity for their
international criminality, which transcends borders and jurisdictions.

By prosecuting genocidaires in Canada, we affirm that genocide –
the crime whose name we should shudder to mention – is the ultimate
crime against humanity, and that we have a collective responsibility
to combat it.

Deportation, then, may well allow human rights abusers to evade
punishment for their crimes, particularly if they are not prosecuted
when returned to their countries of origin.

Indeed, human rights activists have expressed concern, for example,
that an alleged Honduran war criminal recently deported from Canada
will be free from prosecution and punishment upon his return home.

Deportation in such cases can also have a seriously prejudicial
impact on post-conflict peace and reconciliation, for there can be
no reconciliation without peace, and no peace without justice for
the victims of such grave human rights abuses.

A no-less-compelling issue is the government’s obligation not to
proceed with prospective deportations of suspected war criminals if
there is a serious risk of unjust prosecution or cruel and unusual
punishment, or even death consequent upon deportation. Indeed,
Canadian courts have affirmed that such deportations violate both
our charter and the foundational principles of international justice.

Simply put, the wholesale, and effectively automatic, deportation of
alleged war criminals is not an appropriate alternative to the domestic
prosecution of war criminals under the Crimes Against Humanity and War
Crimes Act. Yet, the implementation of the act, and the effectiveness
of government undertakings to enforce it, can only succeed in their
obligatory responsibilities if the necessary resources are provided
to give expression to the hoped-for requisite political will.

And so, as we take leave of the solemn Genocide Prevention Month, we
must recommit to – and implement – a robust Canadian Crimes Against
Humanity and War Crimes Program that effectively holds perpetrators to
account, combats the culture of impunity, and implements the principles
of international justice and reconciliation that ensure that Canada is
not a haven for these hostis humani generis – the enemies of humanity.

Irwin Cotler is a Liberal MP and former minister of justice and
attorney general of Canada. He is an emeritus law professor at McGill
University and has written extensively on war crimes justice.

ARMENIAN HERITAGE, MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATED AT BALLET LUNCHEON

HomeTownLife

May 10 2012

It was a two-for-one day for attendees of a special Mother’s Day event
in Farmington Hills on Saturday – they celebrated their mothers and
they celebrated their Armenian heritage.

The Armenian Relief Society’s Sybille Chapter held its annual Mother’s
Day luncheon at the Costick Center in Farmington Hills and treated
guests to a special performance by the Detroit Ballet Company.

Anne Berger enjoyed the afternoon with daughter Amanda, 16, and her
mother, Rose Maloian, all of Livonia.

“I’ve been involved in the Armenian community my entire life and my
mother, and my mother’s mother have been in this organization (for
years),” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to take my mom out and
celebrate Mother’s Day with her friends and also to celebrate our
Armenian heritage.”

The Armenian Relief Society is a 102-year-old international nonprofit,
nongovernmental, humanitarian society whose mission is to aid and
educate Armenian people and preserve the Armenian heritage, said Rita
Dilanian, chair of the chapter’s executive committee.

The luncheon is a major fundraiser for the chapter.

“By your support today, at our only major fundraising event, you have
allowed the chapter to continue to be of aid, not only the Armenian
people, but those who have gone through tragic times,” she said to
the sold-out crowd. “We have continued to send funds to the American
Red Cross, especially at times when there has been overwhelming need,
as well as sponsored many blood drives for the Red Cross.”

Philanthropic efforts also include college scholarships, assistance
to a children’s home in Armenia and support for residents at a senior
living community in Dearborn.

“We, of course, continue to support many of the societies, national
and international projects, by sending young people to camps and
encouraging students to apply for scholarships offered at the national
regional level,” said Dilanian.

A special treat

The luncheon featured a performance of Act II of Swan Lake and Mazurka
from Masquerade, by the Detroit Ballet Company under the direction
of Eric Johnston.

Director of the Betty Johnston Dance Studio and Birmingham Dance
Academy, Johnston has been involved in all aspects of classical
ballet throughout his long career – as a dancer, choreographer,
producer, director and educator. He has produced performances in
the U.S., England and Mexico. Locally, he has produced and directed
The Wassail Feast at the Detroit Institute of Arts since 1999, and
numerous local festivals.

For the past 25 years, he has lectured and taught at Detroit, Pontiac,
Farmington and Birmingham public schools and at numerous colleges. In
1993, he received Farmington Area Arts Commission Artist in Residence
Award, and received a mayoral tribute from the City of Novi.