Author: Badalian Vardan

RETURN OF OTTOMANS… TO LA
By Garen Yegparian

ASBAREZ
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

No, this is not about living room footrests.

Nor is it about the so-called “neo-Ottomanism” of Turkey’s Foreign
Minister Davutoghlu.

It is about an UNBROKEN tradition of Ottoman (possibly even earlier
Turkish, but still at least terminologically stolen, er, borrowed
from the Persians) origin.

Who knew that the Ottoman Military Marching Band, “Mehter Takimi”,
still existed? Further, it seems its core was comprised of the
janissaries (yeneecheree, and more on this later). After that bloody
corps was eliminated, this traditional marching band, one of the
earliest in history, almost disappeared. Its revival commenced in
1911, SURVIVED THE TRANSITION FROM OTTOMAN TO REPUBLICAN TURKEY, and
since 1953 (in “celebration” of the fall of Constantinople to the
Turks) has been fully reconstituted as a band of the Turkish Armed
Forces. Most of this is from WikipediA.

Isn’t it interesting that the core of Kemal Ataturk’s “republic”,
the armed forces, are maintaining the band of a state with which the
current Turkish state doesn’t easily associate itself, for obvious
genocidal reasons in all likelihood?

Even worse, the janissaries, in their day, were among the most
egregious murderers of Armenians and other non-Moslems in the
Ottoman Empire. You’ll remember they were an elite corps composed
of the children of murdered Christians whose children were raised as
extremist Moslems.

So why this issue now? Well, this latter-day representative of
murderers is coming to town, for the SECOND time, on October 3. They
have pulled a permit from the City of Los Angeles to march and perform
along Hollywood Boulevard starting at Highland. They (35 individuals
according to the permit) plan to assemble at 4:00 pm, start marching
at 4:30, end at 6:15, and disband (no pun intended) at 6:30.

This is a despicable thing. It is occurring during Armenian culture
month, and just before the visit to the area by Catholicos Aram. It is
occurring in one of the biggest concentrations of Armenians living in
the LA basin. It is “related to the Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival
in Costa Mesa” according to the permit-yet another manifestation
of Turkish theft of indigenous culture. Plus, as mentioned above,
this would be the marching band’s second appearance in the area
this year, the first having been in April at the festival when it
performed. Clearly, I shamefully missed being aware of that one.

It is important, terribly so, to give these representatives of Turkey
and its government an unwelcoming greeting they’ll never forget! Who
remembers our success two decades ago when the Red Army Band’s
performance at the Shrine Auditorium was cancelled by the organizers
because of our demonstration? Something like that is what we need.

It would be even better if the permit were revoked! It a failure of
our community that such a permit was issued without our awareness
and input. But now, our organizations must make every effort to
prevent this event from becoming a success. Otherwise, we will be in a
situation comparable to early- and mid-1980s New York City. Back then,
the Turks, using “Children’s Day” (a legitimate holiday in Turkey,
falling on April 23)as their cover, started organizing a parade,
which is now annual and draws thousands, providing that genocidal
state lots of positive publicity. Let’s not allow October 3, 2011 to
become the wedge that creates a similar situation in Los Angeles.

Also, the Pacifica Institute, about whom I’ve written before, and
which may well be connected to Turkey’s Gulen movement, and which
is involved in constituting charter schools in the U.S. to spread
Turkish propaganda, is a sponsor of the food festival.

Some may wonder why we should care about a mere manifestation of
Turkish culture, which is the way organizers are passing this off
(based on the press releases on their website). Aside from the obvious
fact that culture is often used as a political tool, I always remember
Leo Sarkissian’s admonition that our policy had always been: if it’s
local Turks conducting an activity, that’s one thing; if it is a
state-based group from Turkey, then we respond.

Clearly, Mehter Takim meets the second criterion. Let’s get to work
and not let the Turkish government achieve another propaganda coup.

ISN’T THAT SOLDIER PART OF ARMENIA TOO?

12:57 pm | September 06, 2011

Statement by “Right of Speech” Union

“This morning, the “We Won’t Keep Silent” youth initiative released a
video showing the main character, former 20-year old soldier Hovhannes
in a mad state at the psychiatric hospital in Nork. Hovhannes went
crazy in the army.

The soldier had been serving in Askeran for fourteen months. The video
shocked people on social networks and the society. “Right of Speech”
condemns such pathetic manifestations of indifference and humiliation.

The slogan “You are Armenia” on the occasion of the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence assumes that citizens should serve their
country and that the government should make sure citizens feel like
safe, full-fledged citizens. Each of us should feel full-fledged
and shouldn’t be ignored, and all social institutes should help the
government, especially the army. That model is totally distorted in
Armenia. Based on this, “Right of Speech” union calls on all people
who care to support the relatives of the soldier at the psychiatric
hospital in Nork.”

1/3 READY TO LEAVE COUNTRY

September 06, 2011

Social

Based on a survey conducted by “My Opinion” civil initiative, 28
percent of survey participants mentioned that they would emigrate
from Armenia if given the opportunity, stating that the main reasons
for emigration are unemployment and injustice.

“If given the opportunity, who would you appeal to in order to solve
your issues? In response to this question, the survey participants
mentioned Gagik Tsarukyan, followed by the names of high-ranking
officials and well-known people. However, Serzh Sargsyan’s name was
not on the list.

Based on the results of the survey, 45 percent of participants said
youth can unite only around the Karabakh issue.

CHILDREN PLAYING IN SEWAGE WATER IN YEREVAN DISTRICT

Tert.am
23:50 06.09.11

The sewage system at the buildings 68, 70 and 72 in Yerevan’s Shirak
Street has been clogged, with the sewage having already flooded yards,
playing grounds and was about to enter flats.

The residents made an emergency call to Yerevan Jur, the company
in charge, but it responded to the call only five days later,
residents said.

Ashot Hambardzumyan, the head of the Narine condominium that is in
charge of this kind of services in this area, said in an interview
with Tert.am that the worn-out sewage system causes such problems
for those residents very often.

He also said that sometimes it is impossible to get in touch with
1-85 service, and many times it responds slowly to such calls.

In the evening on Tuesday the service had responded to the call and
was already trying to unclog the sewage system.

Vardges Martirosyan, a sewage engineer, said that one of the reasons
such clogging occurs is that the sewage system is rather old.

He also said that residents throw food leftovers, worn-out cloths
and other things that are not supposed to be in the sewage system.

Martirosyan also called on residents to avoid throwing such things
in the system.

FROM GLENDALE TO YEREVAN: THE LAW WILL HUNT YOU DOWN

Armenian Weekly
Tue, Sep 6 2011

GLENDALE, Calif. (A.W.)-Murder suspects, burglars, cyber criminals,
and organized crime members may run, but the law has far-reaching
tentacles. As a recently released U.S. Embassy cable reveals,
cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agents and Armenia’s
detectives has increased, and a number of fugitives from the U.S. have
been arrested, indicted, and sentenced in Armenia, and in some cases
flown back to face the law in the U.S.

As a recently released U.S. Embassy cable reveals, cooperation between
U.S. law enforcement agents and Armenia’s detectives has increased.

The largest obstacle has been the language barrier, and a lack of
translators. Despite that hindrance, investigators from both countries
have successfully cooperated on a number of cases. In one instance,
detectives from the Glendale Police Department traveled to Yerevan to
be present at the trial of a man accused of murdering his girlfriend.

The cable was authored by U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Anthony
Godfrey. It is dated Jan. 19, 2007, and titled “Armenia: Law
Enforcement Cooperation with U.S. Continues to Improve.”

The full text of the U.S. Embassy cable is below.

***

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV ASEC SOCI PINS AM

SUBJECT: ARMENIA: LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION WITH U.S. CONTINUES
TO IMPROVE

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please Treat Accordingly. Not for Internet.

Summary

-~W-

¶1. (SBU) Law enforcement cooperation with Armenia continued to improve
in 2006, with concrete key successes despite a complex environment
and the lack of a formal bilateral legal framework.

Fugitive investigations continued to be the most fruitful
area of cooperation, but GOAM cooperation in an ongoing major
international cyber crime case was also important. Five fugitives from
U.S. justice were arrested in Armenia, and two were transferred to
U.S. custody to face trial. Two fugitives were indicted in Armenia
on U.S. murder charges; one case resulted in conviction while the
other is still pending. Information provided by the GOAM helps to
advance investigations into Eurasian organized crime groups based in
Southern California. U.S. cooperation resulted in the apprehension
and deportation to Armenia of fugitives sought by Armenian authorities.

Key Armenian institutions working with USG officials are the Prosecutor
General’s office (PG), the National Security Service (NSS) and the
Armenian police. Lack of resources to manage speedy translation
of U.S. evidentiary documents is a hindrance, as is the lack of a
full-time LEGATT in Yerevan, but we expect this level of cooperation
to continue. End Summary.

¶2. (SBU) One of the few negative consequences of strong links between
the Armenian community in the U.S. and their ethnic homeland is that
criminals seek to exploit the absence of institutionalized bilateral
law enforcement cooperation to avoid justice. Through the efforts of
various U.S. and Armenian organizations, we are working to make this
more difficult, and to ensure that the long arm of the law reaches
all the way from Glendale, California to Yerevan and back again. On
the U.S. side, we are fortunate to have well-established cooperation,
now led by our Legal Attache Office (based in Tbilisi) with full
engagement by post’s Regional Security Office. Glendale PD, LAPD,
the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and other federal and local
agencies work directly with us on specific cases. Cooperation is
so well-developed that our Consular Section’s anti-fraud unit has a
terminal which links them directly to Glendale PD’s database. While
in the past, criminals have sought refuge in the fact that Armenia’s
constitution prohibits extradition of its citizens, the PG’s office
now works to prosecute these suspects based on U.S. evidence.

¶3. (SBU) The U.S. Mission has several assistance programs with the
PG’s office and with the police, but they are kept entirely separate
from requests for law enforcement cooperation so as to remove the
possibility of misunderstanding a request for assistance as part of a
“quid pro quo” arrangement.

¶4. (SBU) At our request, LEGATT Tbilisi assembled a report of key
elements of law enforcement cooperation from 2006. The full report
was sent via email to EUR/CARC; highlights are included below. (Note:
Some of this information relates to ongoing investgations or judicial
proceedings which are not complete and should be treated as Law
Enforcement Sensitive. End Note.)

FUGITIVE INVESTIGATIONS

——–

One of the most productive areas of Law Enforcement cooperation is
the location, arrest and return of fugitives. The FBI tracks the
number of U.S. fugitives who are believed to be in Armenia, as well
as the number of Armenian fugitives believed to be in the U.S. As of
January 2007, the number of tracked fugitives is 67, which includes
those already returned to their country of origin. During 2006, the
FBI located two Armenian fugitives in the U.S., and returned one who
was wanted for attempted murder. The Armenian Services located 18 U.S.

fugitives. Of those, they arrested 5, and thus far have returned 3.

One of the 18 was convicted in Armenia for the murder he committed
in the U.S., and another is pending trial for murder. Two of the 18
died of natural causes before they were arrested by the Armenians.

It should be noted that the disparity in the number of U.S. fugitives
located by the Armenian Services and those arrested is not the fault
of Armenian Services. Due to the lack of an extradition treaty,
the Armenian Government can only deport those fugitives who are not
Armenian Citizens, or who have dual citizenship in both Armenia and
the U.S. The Prosecutor General Offices however, offers in all cases
to indict the individuals in Armenia for the crimes committed in
the U.S. Thus far, the PG’s Office has indicted two individuals for
murder, one of whom was convicted, the other pending trial, and is
currently reviewing U.S. evidence in order to indict a third fugitive
for burglary. The most significant hindrance to Armenian prosecution
is the lack of dedicated language translators. The FBI is currently
attempting to address this problem.

SARO TSATURYAN – In October 2006, the Armenian National Security
Service (NSS) advised they located Saro Gevorg Tsaturyan in Armenia.

Tsaturyan is wanted by the Glendale Police Department for two counts
of First Degree Residential Burglary and two counts of Grand Theft
of Personal Property. Tsaturyan and his Armenian co-conspirators have
burglarized numerous homes of ethnic Armenians in Los Angeles county.

The FBI has investigated him for various organized crime related
offenses, to include special interest alien smuggling. On 17 November
2006, the National Security Service of Armenia arrested Tsaturyan.

Tsaturyan is a permanent legal resident of the United States and fled
the country before being prosecuted for his crimes. The Prosecutor
General’s Office advised that the Government of Armenia cannot compel
Tsaturyan to return to the U.S. for trial, but offered to prosecute
him in Armenia for the crimes he committed in the U.S. Legatt has
initiated contact with Glendale Police Department for the foreign
prosecution. Legatt coordinated with U.S. Embassy translator who
is currently translating the documents necessary for indictment
in Armenia.

ANAIT ZAKARIAN – At the request of LA County Sheriff Leroy Baca, who
was recently in Yerevan, Armenia, Legat submitted a request to the
Armenian authorities to locate and arrest Anait Zakarian. Zakarian
is wanted for murder by Glendale Police. She is also wanted by the LA
County Sheriff’s Department for escape from an LASO prison before her
murder trial. The Armenian National Security Service advised Legat
that Zakarian moved from Armenia to Moscow and now resides there.

Based on this information, Glendale PD will seek an Interpol Red
Notice and pursue her arrest in Russia.

NERSES CHAMICHYAN – During July 2006, unidentified subjects kidnaped,
assaulted, then released U.S. Citizen Gevorg Chamichyan, in Yerevan,
Armenia. Chamichyan’s cousin in Los Angeles phoned the American
Embassy in Yerevan to report the crime. Legatt coordinated with RSO
section which linked up with Gevorg Chamichyan upon his release from
captivity. Conoff ensured Gevorg Chamichyan filed a complete police
report with Legatt’s liaison contacts in the Police of the Republic
of Armenia. Because the Armenian police made no translator available,
Conoff acted as translator during police and PG interrogations. While
the Consular Section coordinated the return of Gevorg Chamichyan to
the U.S., Gevorg’s brother, Nerses Chamichyan, showed up to assist.

Nerses Chamichyan, an Armenian citizen with lapsed Legal Permanent
Resident status in the U.S., is wanted for attempted murder in Los
Angeles. The Chamichyans belong to an organized crime group which
is battling with another group in Los Angeles. Gevorg’s kidnapping
was conducted in an attempt to discourage his family members from
testifying in a Los Angeles attempted murder trial. The RSO and
Consular Officer coordinated Chamichyan’s travel documents. LAPD
Detective George Shamlyan, who was in Yerevan conducting case
coordination on two unrelated investigations, agreed to escort
Chamichyan to LA. On 29 October 2006, Nerses Chamichyan arrived at
LAX airport and was taken into custody by the Glendale, California
Police Department without incident. Since his return, Chamichyan
testified in a significant Organized Crime trial which resulted in
convictions on all counts.

ARTUR KHANZADYAN – In September 2005, Artur Khanzadyan brutally
murdered his girlfriend and left her in the trunk of his automobile
in Glendale, California. By the time the body was discovered several
days later, police officers determined Khanzadyan had fled the U.S.

Approximately three weeks later, pursuant to Legatt’s request, the
National Security Service of Armenia located and arrested Khanzadyan.

Due to Khanzadyan’s status as an Armenian Citizen, the Armenian courts
ruled repeatedly that he could not be compelled to return to the U.S.

As a result of these rulings, the Prosecutor General of Armenia charged
Khanzadyan with murder in Armenia. The Glendale Police Department
translated their investigative case file and evidence which was passed
to the Armenian government. Khanzadyan’s trial began on August 22,
2006 in Armenia. Together with Conoff, two detectives from Glendale
Police Department attended the trial, as did the victim’s father. On
August 25, 2006, the court convicted Khanzadyan for murder and
sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

VAHAGN AKOPYAN – On April 4, 2006, the National Security Service
arrested Vahagn Akopyan who is wanted for murder in Los Angeles, CA.

Due to his Armenian Citizenship, the Armenian Government cannot
compel Akopyan to return to the U.S. However, the Prosecutor General
subsequently indicted Akopyan in Armenia for the U.S. murder. The
FBI turned over the complete translated case file to the Prosecutor
General’s Office in December 2006. Akopyan’s trial is currently
pending.

HAROUT BEKARIAN – On 20 June 2001, pursuant to an FBI investigation,
the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California
indicted Harout Bekarian for mail fraud, health care fraud, bribery
and conspiracy to launder money. When LA FBI agents attempted to arrest
Bekarian, they learned he had already fled to Armenia. On 10 May 2006,
the National Security Service of Armenia arrested Harout Bekarian.

Incident to arrest, Bekarian, who is an Armenian Citizen, advised
he would voluntarily return to the U.S. for trial. On 2 September
2006, the NSS transferred custody of Bekarian to Glendale, California
Police Department Detectives Craig Tweedy and Tigran Topadzikian. The
Detectives were in Yerevan in order to attend the trial of Artur
Khanzadyan. On 2 September, the Detectives transferred custody of
Bekarian to the FBI at the Los Angeles International Airport. Within
weeks of his return to the U.S., Harout Bekarian pled guilty to health
care fraud and conspiracy in Los Angeles. Sentencing is scheduled
for January 2007.

ANUSHAVAN MARTIROSYAN – In mid-2006, Glendale Police Department
requested Legat attempt to locate Anushavan Martirosyan in Armenia.

Martirosyan drove the getaway vehicle during a recent murder in
Glendale, California. The Armenian NSS initiated a search at Legat’s
request. The NSS advised Legat that Martirosyan is living in Moscow,
Russia. The NSS provided Martirosyan’s home telephone number. The
NSS also provided flight time and number for Martirosyan’s mother
and brother who flew to Moscow to visit him in October 2006. Legat
advised Glendale Police and Legat Moscow. Glendale Police intend to
indict Martirosyan as soon as possible and obtain an Interpol Red
Notice and UFAP warrant through FBI Los Angeles.

ARTUR YERANOSYAN – The Police of the Republic of Armenia approached
Legat Tbilisi on 12 May regarding an organized crime related shooting
which occurred in Yerevan the previous day. An ICE lookout determined
the subject, Arthur Yeranosyan was en route to Los Angeles. FBI Los
Angeles coordinated with BICE who detained Yeranosyan upon arrival at
LAX. On 25 May, a KLM contract guard escorted Yeranosyan to Amsterdam
and then onto a connecting flight to Yerevan. Armenian Federal Police
arrested Yeranosyan without incident upon his arrival at Zvarnots
International Airport in Yerevan. Los Angeles FBI sent Legat Tbilisi
toll information for Yeranosyan’s mobile telephone. The cell site
information for the mobile phone precisely mirrors Yeranosyan’s
movement, before during and after the shooting. The Police of the
Republic of Armenia and the Prosecutor General’s Office were both
appreciative for the evidence.

CYBER CRIME INVESTIGATIONS

———

GEVORG MKRTCHYAN – This investigation targets a cyber criminal
enterprise with members operating in Yerevan, Armenia; Moscow,
Russia; Spain; and New York. The sophisticated criminal enterprise
which is headed by an Armenian in Yerevan, hacks into commercial and
individuals’ bank accounts and transfers money to various bank accounts
around the world. Criminal associates in these countries then withdraw
the money and distribute it to other members of the organization.

Legatt has worked closely with the NSS since the inception of the
investigation. Legatt and NSS personnel traveled together to Spain
to coordinate with Law Enforcement Officers conducting the Spanish
portion of the investigation. The FBI offices in New York and Milwaukee
are also actively engaged in the investigation. The FBI anticipates
that subjects in Spain, Armenia, and the U.S. will be arrested in
early 2007.

MONEY LAUNDERING INVESTIGATIONS

———–

HAYK STEPANYAN – This investigation was initially opened in order to
respond to a simple request in support of an Armenian Prosecutor
General’s Office case. In furtherance of a money laundering
investigation, the PG’s office requested Legat provide information
on two Arkansas based companies which had transferred USD 50,000.00
to the subject of their investigation. When Little Rock FBI pursued
the lead, the companies were determined to be shell companies under
investigation by FBI Portland. In December 2006, two Portland FBI
agents traveled to Yerevan and met the investigator assigned to
the Armenian investigation. Portland agents determined that the two
investigations are directly linked, and will be provided copies of
all Armenian evidence which will assist the FBI. The meeting resulted
in new leads for domestic FBI field offices and valuable intelligence
which will be disseminated via EC.

COUNTERTERRORISM

ARTUR SOLOMONYAN – This FBI investigation resulted in the indictment
and arrest of individuals who were attempting to smuggle military
weapons from Armenia to the U.S. The Armenian NSS arrested two of the
individuals involved in this plot. One of them was immediately turned
over to the U.S. This individual has since been convicted in U.S.

Federal Court. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia intends
to indict the second subject in Armenia upon completion of all the
U.S. trials.

BMI LAUNCHES FLIGHT SALE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
06.09.2011 | 14:23

Press release

(Noyan Tapan – 06.09.2011) Book early for the lowest fares to London
this winter

bmi, British Midland International, on 5 September launched its
international seat sale offering huge savings on flights to London
Heathrow from Yerevan.

Fares start from EUR 168 excluding taxes and flights are available to
book from today until 30 September 2011 for travel from 1st November
2011 ~V 31 March 2012.

With the autumn fast approaching, now is the perfect time to take
advantage of bmi~Rs low fares and fly to London for some of the best
shopping in the world. As well as a huge discount on fares, customers
booking flights at flybmi.com during the international seat sale will
receive a VIP voucher for the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd~Rs
Bush, London ~V the largest urban shopping mall in Europe. The voucher
will give a discount in a variety of shops and eateries.

Simon Avagyan, bmi sales manager business, said:

~SOur international seat sale offers our customers the chance to fly
to London for a great price. London is the perfect destination for
a shopping break, from the buzz of Oxford Street to the elegance of
Bond Street and Harrods; there are shops for all tastes and budgets.

~SWith the amazing low fares on offer, what our customers save on
flights, they can spend in the fabulous array of shops London has
to offer.~T

For more information or to book visit

To book using a smartphone visit

POVERTY, EDUCATION, ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION MAIN CONCERNS FOR ARMENIA’S YEZIDIS: YOVANOVITCH

ArmeniaDiaspora.com

Sept 5 2011

Epress.am — In Sept. and Oct. 2009, Embassy officers met with members
of the ethnic Yezidi community, Armenia’s largest minority group,
to discuss key issues the community faces in Armenia, according to
a confidential cable dated Dec. 3, 2009, released by WikiLeaks.

The cable, written by then US Ambassador to Armenia Marie
L. Yovanovitch, notes that ethnic identity, education and
endemic poverty are the main issues that confront the Yezidis in
Armenia. Yerevan State University (YSU) Professor of Oriental Studies
Garnik Asatryan told an embassy official that “Yezidis occupied the
lowest category of Armenian society in terms of income and education
levels” but attributed these problems more to their sociocultural
norms and “Armenia’s clan economic system” rather than racial or
religious discrimination.

In a Sept. 22 meeting, head of Yezidi public radio Hasan Tamoyan also
identified education and poor economy as key issues, though noting
that the difficulties his community faces were not unique to his ethnic
group. “In fact, he believed that Yezidis in Armenia were afforded more
recognition and special status from the government than in other FSU
[former Soviet Union] countries. According to Tamoyan, many Yezidis
simply choose not to go to school and women marry very young.”

On Oct. 14, the US Ambassador met with local Yezidi leaders from
the villages of Algyaz, Sipan, and Jamshlu in Aragatsotn region,
including Mayor of Algyaz Aziz Mhoyan, Tengiz Mamoyan of Sipan,
and Tital Aloyan of Jamshlu.

“The discussion focused on the economic hardships caused by decaying
or non-existent infrastructure and services, as well as on the
out-migration of young people due to limited employment opportunities.

In addition, the cattle-breeding and sheep-herding on which these
villages depend have been adversely affected by harsh weather and
limited pasture land.

“Aziz Mhoyan pointed to gasification of his village as a key challenge,
which was due to be finished by 2010, but had stalled due to budget
shortfalls associated with the global economic crisis. He expressed
frustration that the main gas pipeline was less than one mile
away. Similarly, Tengiz Mamoyan identified the paramount problems for
his community as inadequate heating and insufficient access to clean
water. Meanwhile, Tital Aloyan cited the lack of medical facilities
or a functioning school as the primary problems his village faced.

“All three leaders acknowledged the critical role that foreign
remittances played in the survival of their communities: In Alagyaz,
Sipan, and Jamshlu, 80-90 percent of families rely on remittance from
abroad. The need for foreign remittances is directly connected to the
emigration of youth since 1991, which the communities heads cited as
another threat to Yezidi society in Armenia,” reads the cable.

In a section titled “Are the Yezidis Really Kurds?”, Yovanovitch
notes that Tamoyan, the head of Yezidi public radio, named cultural
misidentification of Yezidis as Kurds as a major problem for the
community; however, when the ambassador visited Aragatsotn marz,
“the local Yezidi leaders were adamant that they are Kurds, ethically,
culturally, and linguistically. The only point of difference between
the groups is religion, they declared.” As Yovanovitch observes, “The
fact that ottoman Kurds played a significant role in the exile and
massacres of Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire may also be a factor
in Armenian Yezidis’ reluctance to identify themselves as Kurds.”

When the ambassador asked whether an umbrella organization representing
the needs of the community exists, the Aragatsotn Yezidi leaders said
though there were several organizations, the Yezidis did not speak
with one voice:

“Rather many of the Yezidi organizations and NGOs in Armenia were
personality driven and concerned primarily with the interests of
their leaders. Nonetheless, all three leaders agreed that an umbrella
organization would be more effective in securing economic assistance
from the Yezidi expatriates and wealthy communities in Russia’s far
east. (COMMENT: We were left with the impression that the divisions
in the community caused by the Yezidi versus Kurd debate hampers
the establishment of an effective and unified organization that can
represent the interests of the Yezidi.)”

The cable concludes with an opinion by Garnik Asatryan, the YSU
professor, who believed that the Armenia-Turkey border opening could
radicalize the Yezidi and Kurdish communities in Armenia as it would
allow for more direct contact with elements of Turkey’s Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK/KGK). However, the US ambassador brushed off
this view, calling it “alarmist” and noting that though “Armenia’s
Yezidis/Kurds may feel solidarity with Kurds asserting their ethnic
identity in other countries in the region, there is no evidence that
they have actively supported broader Kurdish political movements.”

Photo: The tomb of Sheikh Adi, the most holy Yezidi religious shrine,
located in Lalish, Iraq (Wikimedia Commons).

Article source:

STILL GOING: FRENCH CROONER AZNAVOUR, 87, GEARS UP FOR TOUR

France 24

Sept 5 2011

AFP – He may be 87, but don’t suggest to French crooner and veritable
national monument Charles Aznavour that his forthcoming tour is a
goodbye. “I have never, ever used the word farewell,” he quickly
points out.

The legendary singer-songwriter pleased fans the world over when he
announced plans for a month-long residency at Paris’ landmark Olympia
theatre starting September 7, followed by a nationwide tour.

Aznavour’s stint in the capital is a return to the stage that launched
his career 55 years ago. Close to 1,000 songs and some 60 films later,
there is — once again — speculation that he may choose the moment
to announce his retirement.

“Some of the press say anything!” he told AFP. “I said that I was
going to do one of my last tours. But when (US director) Martin
Scorsese presents his latest film, you don’t say he’s not going to
make another.”

The performer of such hits as “She”, rerecorded by Elvis Costello for
the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant comedy “Notting Hill”, and “Yesterday When
I Was Young” said he is embarking on his new tour without first-night
nerves — but a bit of anxiety.

“I used to get nervous, at the start, when the audience hadn’t come
to see me but from the moment they did, it stopped,” he said.

Anxiety, on the other hand, “it’s about the set, the songs. Was I
right to do this tour? Should I have stopped before?” he said.

Born in Paris in 1924 to Armenian origin parents, Aznavour —
originally Aznavourian — grew up in the city’s poorer neighbourhoods
before finding a home on the stage.

Starting out in cabaret, he later teamed up with young songwriter
and composer Pierre Roche and the iconic Edith Piaf, who would take
him to America and a solo career.

In 1954 he rose to prominence with his live renditions of “Sur Ma
Vie”, followed by one of his biggest hits “Je m’voyais deja” in 1960
— the same year he starred on screen in Francois Truffaut’s “Shoot
the Piano Player”, which catapulted him to fame abroad.

A couple of years later he took New York’s Carnegie Hall by storm
before touring the world and seeing his songs sung by stars from Ray
Charles (“La Mamma”) to Liza Minnelli and Fred Astaire.

Aznavour — sometimes referred to as the French Frank Sinatra — is
not only one of France’s most popular singers but the first French
performer to have a recording that went platinum in Europe. He has
sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

In 1998 he was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and Time Online.

The octogenarian is aware he may not be able to carry off performances
as he once did, and may have to make concessions to his years.

“If I need to sit down, I’m going to sit down, if I need to sing
while standing, I’ll sing standing,” he said matter of factly.

“That doesn’t mean I’m helpless, but you have to know your age.

“My memory is getting worse and worse, so I’m just going to tell the
audience the truth: I will probably have an autocue at some point,”
the singer said.

“I don’t complicate things, because the audience isn’t complicated. I
have told them everything until now, including when I had a hair
transplant,” he laughed.

Ahead of the tour, Aznavour is publishing “From One Door to Another”,
a collection of thoughts and memories, and “Always”, a new album of
original songs.

>>From a generation of French “chanson” masters where lyrics are king
and the tune a prop, the album is pure Aznavour with story-songs on
the passing of time, on war, love and desire.

“I’m often asked if I am thinking about a woman as I write,” he said.

“No, I think about the beauty of the words first then the subject
follows by itself.”

“I owe everything to French literature, I’m a voracious reader, I
buy an enormous number of books, and beautiful books, because I like
it when my hands are able to touch something as beautiful as my eyes
can see,” said Aznavour.

His current reading list features the latest offering by French-Afghan
author Atiq Rahimi, some Turkish literature, and “a spot of the Bible
and the Koran…”

For his Olympia shows and the 20 dates that follow he has selected
“some new songs, some old, some very old, and some all-time
favourites.”

The new? “Well, I have a new musician who plays the duduk,” he said,
referring to a flute-like traditional woodwind instrument from Armenia,
where Aznavour set up an aid foundation and was granted citizenship
in 2008 by presidential decree.

“So I am going to sing a song that I recorded with a duduk but that
I have never been able to play on stage,” he adds enthusiastically.

“I’m like every other artist, I like doing things that nobody else
does: performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, at the Kremlin,
St Mark’s Square in Venice… I get a real kick out of that,” he said.

“At my age, I’m not stopping anyone else from doing it. Just the
opposite, I think am paving the way.”

WHO WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE OF TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS?

Today’s Zaman
Sept 5 2011
Turkey

The Palmer report on the Mavi Marmara raid has triggered another
wave of tension between Turkey and Israel. Turkey’s demands from the
government of Israel for an official apology, compensation for the
victims and the lifting of the blockade of Gaza have not been met,
and it is now very unlikely that they will be in the future.

So the Turkish government has decided to move ahead with several
sanctions against Israel, making it clear that they are targeted at
the Israeli government and not the people of Israel, who deserve a
better government, according to Turkey’s president, Abdullah Gul.

Some Israeli commentators have rushed to explain the new sanction
policy and the deterioration of the relationship between the
two countries in general between the two countries by referring
to the Islamist past of the Turkish ruling party and its leader,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which is the most shortsighted
explanation of the current situation. We should remember that Turkey’s
relations with Israel proceeded without any crisis under the Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) government for six long years, from
2002 to the end of 2008. During these years the AK Party welcomed
Shimon Peres, the president of Israel, to Ankara, where he addressed
the Turkish Parliament, a rare gesture offered to a close friend.

Meanwhile the Erdogan government tried to help mediate differences
between Israel and Syria in order to pave the way toward permanent
peace in the region.

The downturn in Turkish-Israeli relations started with Israel’s war
against Gaza in December 2008, in which hundreds of Palestinians,
mainly elderly people, women and children, were killed. It is important
to remember that when Israel attacked Gaza in December 2008, Turkey
was trying to get Israel and Syria to agree to direct peace talks.

It is therefore nonsense to explain the current crisis by referring to
the so-called Islamist background of the Erdogan government. Israel’s
policy of violence could not be accepted by the people of Turkey,
and the AK Party government has simply been responsive to the public
mood provoked by Israeli aggression. The raid on the Mavi Marmara was
surely beyond tolerance. The Israeli government has chosen to deal
with the old issue using outdated and inconclusive methods that have
resulted in their losing the friendship of Turkey.

I think recent Israeli governments have failed to understand the
dynamics, actors and policies essential to the “new Turkey.” Turkey is
no longer a country ruled by its military, which suppressed different
points of view on domestic as well as foreign policy matters. Any state
that wishes to be a friend of Turkey should first win the support
and sympathy of its people. A government that is accountable to the
people under democratic rule cannot remain indifferent to the demands
of its people on foreign policy matters.

Normalization between the two countries will not begin without Israel
coming to terms with this “new Turkey,” with its government, civil
society, economy and support in the world. The Israeli government
should abandon any daydreams of a return to the late 1990s, when
they had a working relationship with the Turkish government, and the
Turkish military disregarded what the people actually wanted.

Public opinion has had an increasing impact on Turkey’s foreign
policy-making in recent years. Democratization and a growing
participation in civil society, due to economic development and the
EU accession process, have empowered public opinion to assert itself
on the matter of foreign affairs, which was not the case a decade ago.

Thus Turkey’s relationship with Israel was questioned whenever Israel
engaged in violent policies in the region, like the war in Lebanon
and the attacks on Gaza. Public reaction to Israeli aggression in
the region is bound to be taken into consideration by a government
that is accountable to its people.

Especially after the killing of eight Turks and one Turkish-American
aboard the Mavi Marmara by Israeli soldiers, public opinion is ever
more important. It will be very difficult to win the people over to
a rapprochement with Israel, without at least an official apology
and compensation.

It is therefore a mistake to assume that the Erdogan government is the
source of the problem, and to claim that Turkish-Israeli relations
would return to normal under a non-AK Party government. To refute
this I will say two things: First, the AK Party government is only
responding to the public mood and demands. Second, the AK Party is very
unlikely to disappear from the political scene in Turkey. That is to
say that both the current public mood and the AK Party’s rule appear
as though they will be around for a while. So instead of sitting and
waiting in vain for them to disappear, Israel and its friends should
try to not lose Turkey’s support permanently.

My advice to the Israeli government is that it should get used
to living and working with the AK Party government, and to try to
understand the “new Turkey” because even in a future post-AK Party
period things will never be the same as in days past

TURKISH-ARMENIAN AT ODDS OVER NEW BOOK
Vercihan Ziflioglu – ISTANBUL

Hurriyet

Sept 5 2011
Turkey

A book written by Armenian historian Ara Sarafyan that includes
historical documents published by Turkish researcher Murat Bardakcı
has sparked a new debate between the two figures.

Bardakcı has accused Sarafyan of plagiarism in the book “Talat
PaÅ~_a’s Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917,” while Sarafyan has
countered that Bardakcı is uncomfortable about the findings in the
monograph, which draws heavily on the Turkish researcher’s work but
also includes some additional documents.

“He has appropriated parts he saw fit, added explanations according
to his own fancy and then published it under his own name without any
shame or embarrassment. This is worse than plagiarism; it is outright
theft,” journalist and writer Murat Bardakcı said.

Bardakcı prepared his book, “Talat PaÅ~_a’s Dead Letter,” in 2008 with
personal documents compiled from Talat PaÅ~_a’s archives. Bardakcı
said his publisher was going to initiate legal proceedings against
Sarafyan, the director of the Gomidas Institute.

Sarafyan, meanwhile, also responded to the accusations; “I have made
a more solid case – Talat’s report was actually based on official
Ottoman records. I have also analyzed Talat’s data in the way that
Talat would have read them,” he recently told the Daily News.