Author: Badalian Vardan

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Contact: Marc Mamigonian
Tel: 617-489-1610
Fax: 617-484-1759
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

TALK ON HISTORY OF ARMENIAN DISSIDENCE

AT NAASR BY DR. SETA DADOYAN

Dr. Seta Dadoyan, currently of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, will give
a lecture entitled "Armenian Dissidence: Highlights of an Unwritten
History," on Thursday, September 20, at 8:00 p.m., at the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. This will mark the resumption of NAASR’s
lecture series which has been on hiatus during the summer.

There is a legacy of Armenian dissidence, the history of which has yet
to be written. In this talk, her first at NAASR, Dr. Seta B. Dadoyan
will analyze highlights of Armenian dissidence as reactions against-and
yet also essential parts of-the cultural legacy of Armenians. By
dissidence Dadoyan means sets of beliefs/values and/or courses of action
that are liberal in essence and reformist in motives. As such they run
contrary to the prevailing value systems and narratives.

Wide Range of Movements, Groups, and Individuals

Dissidence covers religious, reformist, syncretistic, and egalitarian
social movements (such as the Tondrakians) that also had literary
aspects (such as the work of Grigor Narekatsi). Pro-Eastern policies
and the careers of individuals and groups (such as the Armenians in the
Islamic world), and Cilician ecumenism (exemplified by Nerses
Lambronatsi) in turn ran counter to mainstream "national" ideology. In
many ways, Armenian popular culture and humor are "dissident" in their
liberalism and cosmopolitanism. Dadoyan’s objective is to bring out
alternative intriguing sides of Armenian culture and to suggest a more
critical perspective than otherwise stereotyped accounts.

Dr. Dadoyan taught for many years at the American University of Beirut
and Haigazian University and more recently at Columbia University. She
will be teaching at St. Nersess Seminary in 2007-2008. She is the
author of numerous articles in scholarly journals and several books,
including Pages of West Armenian Philosophical Thought (1987), The
Fatimid Armenians: Cultural and Political Interaction in the Near East
(1997), and The Armenian Catholicosate from Cilicia to Antelias: An
Introduction to the Political History (2003). At present she is working
on an extensive work on the Armenians in the Near East.

Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). The NAASR
Center is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next to the
U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building and in
adjacent areas. The lecture will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling 617-489-1610,
faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

THREE APPLES FELL FROM THE SKY FOR THE PRIME MINISTER, THE PRESIDENT AND THE SOCIETY
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir, Armenia
10-09-2007 12:00:40

The last poll held by the Gallup Institute was like thunder in the
calm home political sky of Armenia. At the moment when everyone
said unanimously there is no alternative to Serge Sargsyan, and the
opposition is unanimously confirming this point of view, the Gallup
suddenly showed up and pointed to three alternatives at once. In
addition, they are all the same height and all of them taller than
Serge Sargsyan. However, the political sphere did not realize what
the fable taught. They did not even try to understand who taught.

Meanwhile, it could be a highly important circumstance in understanding
the political process. The problem is that the results of the poll by
the Gallup institute suggest the controversy in the government or the
potential for this controversy. It does not matter whether the results
of the poll which give a lower popular rating to Serge Sargsyan than
to Vardan Oskanyan, Raffi Hovannisian or Gagik Tsarukyan are real. For
instance, the leader of the Republican faction Karen Karapetyan said
he has other data from Gallup which give the highest rating to Serge
Sargsyan. The problem is that Karen Karapetyan has not released this
data yet, whereas the other was released, and Gallup did not refute it.

Consequently, everyone who wants to be an actor rather than an
observer in the political process must discern the purpose of the
released poll. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the possible
targets of this poll. The first could be Serge Sargsyan to whom
they are trying to make clear that he should not think there is no
alternative to him, and he should take into account the opinion of the
"environment". Hence, Karen Karapetyan might have got favorable data
from Gallup but Serge Sargsyan should not overlook the other data,
the one which is not Karen Karapetyan’s but the society’s.

The other target of the poll could be Robert Kocharyan, if he is
not the ideologist of the poll. Because it is possible that he
was the ideologist, at least to show to Serge Sargsyan that if the
opposition fails to invent opponents to him, he will have invented at
least three. If nevertheless Robert Kocharyan is not the ideologist,
he is a possible target. In other words, they are trying to point
to at least three options which he can use to make Serge Sargsyan’s
absolute victory subject to struggle, in other words, not to let the
prime minister become president without assuming any responsibility. In
other words, to set forward stipulations for his presidency. Why is it
necessary? It is necessary to have the president elected not without
an obligation. If the opposition fails to do this, in other words,
to have Serge Sargsyan assume obligations, Robert Kocharyan must
do it because as a president he also had and still has obligations
before the society and the so-called international community.

The other target of the poll could be the society. The society does
not have the right to think that in any country there can be one who
has no alternative. It does not only concern the presidential election,
although in this case it concerns the presidential election.

In any question, personal or national, the society must see
alternatives. If it cannot see, it is not blind but dead. Unlike
the human body, the eye is the heart of the society’s body. If the
society can see, it is alive, if not, it is exaggerated to say there
is a society.

CANDIDATES FOR AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT PLEDGE SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2007 12:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a meeting with the Armenian National Committee of
Australia earlier this week, Federal Labor Candidate for Bennelong,
Ms. Maxine McKew declared she would "unequivocally and publicly"
support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide if elected to
government in the upcoming federal elections. "It was my position
while working in the media and remains my position today," said the
former ABC journalist who will challenge Prime Minister John Howard
for the Armenian populated seat of Bennelong in the 2007 Federal
election. Ms. McKew added: "The Armenian-Australian community has a
kindred spirit in me and if elected, I will advocate for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the Government of Australia."

ANC Australia President, Mr Varant Meguerditchian welcomed Ms McKew’s
affirmation, stating: "The 4000-strong Armenian-Australian voters
of Bennelong will wait to hear the position of other candidates,
including Prime Minister John Howard, regarding the issue of Armenian
Genocide recognition before casting their united votes at the upcoming
election."

"Recognizing the Armenian Genocide is the first step toward
ensuring against the repeat of such hateful crimes," added Mr
Meguerditchian. "Ms McKew has set the moral high bar by genuinely
expressing her views concerning this very important humanitarian
issue."

WHY HALACOGLU DECIDED TO MENTION THE LISTS OF CONVERTED ARMENIANS
By H. Charkian, Translated by A.M.

AZG Armenian Daily #163
08/09/2007

Scandal in Turkey

After the scandalous statement of August 18, head of the Turkish
Historic Union professor Halacoglu made another statement on
August 21. "In order to avoid the deportation of 1915, Armenians,
who pretended to be Alavis or Kurds, adopted Islam. In 1920s the
number of ‘Armenian dyonme’s reached 100 thousand. In 1936-37 the
Government disclosed all of them. I have got those lists," he said.

This statement, although more precise than the previous one, increased
the rumors about Halacoglu.

Nevertheless, the most remarkable part of all those statements is
that Halacoglu de facto admitted that deportation in 1915 meant death
to Armenians.

Halacoglu did not even mention that great numbers of Armenian young
women and children were turned to Islam perforce, but confesses that
Islam did not save the converted Armenians from massacre, either,
otherwise why should Kemalists discover their dwellings and make
their lists in 1936-37?

Due to these confessions by Halacoglu, Nevzat Onayan in an article
published on "Evrensel.net" discovered that in 1935 the Turkish
Government realized two kinds of population census – public and
secret. The official, public census was realized in October 1935,
and the secret – in July 1935. The corresponding law had been adopted
on May 3, 1934. This law was never officially published and came into
power in secret.

Moreover, on June 14, 1934 Internal Affairs Minister of Turkey Sukryu
Kaya, close comrade of Kemal Ataturk and a Jew from Salonicae by
origin, announced at the parliament, "Dear Sirs, this is the law,
which will ensure the solution of the most vital problem in this state,
the problem of language".

By the way, on August 22 "BIA" news agency reported that one the very
eve of the World War I the "Ittihat ve terakki" party sent someone
Esat Uras to Armenian regions of Turkey, in order to find out whether
Armenians could be assimilated with other peoples or no. The latter
came to the following conclusion, "The Kurds can be assimilated,
but the Armenians – no; therefore they must be nutralized".

In the September 7 release of "Radikal" Fuat Dyundar supplemented
the information of "BIA" agency.

"Especially in autumn 1915, when the major part of Armenians of
Anatolia were deported, Taleat Pasa started persecution of converted
Armenians. The statistics services were demanded to collect information
about perverted Armenians from the regions and to report to the
central authorities each month.

The authorities demanded not only the number of Armenians to be
registered, but also the addresses and all the members of the
families," wrote Dyundar.

He notes that the 1915 order about deportation of all Armenians forced
many to adopt Islam, so as to save their lives. At first Taleat Pasa
ordered not to deport the converted Armenians, but when their number
considerably increased, he changed his mind and ordered to deport all
Armenians irrespective of their religion. Later Taleat made a law that
only Armenian women married with Turks were not subject to deportation.

Then Dyundar writes, "The adoption of Islam by Armenian families,
saying nothing of town quarters and villages, was impossible. The
Armenians could save their lives only among rebel Kurds who mainly
settled in Dersim and Sincar. Therefore, all the Armenians could not
turn into Alavis, as the Passport Department registered the nationality
of all villages. In other words, citizens of Armenian villages saw no
reason of pretending to be Alavis, as that would not save them from
deportation. This means that ascribing Armenian origin to Alavi Kurds
and increasing the number of converted Armenians up to 100 thousand
has nothing in common with science".

"At present there are certain circles in Turkey, which are far
more reactionary than Ittihatists, although they call themselves
Neo-Ittihatists," continues Dyundar.

In order the reduce the number of Kurdish population of Turkey,
the authorities are trying to represent certain parts of them as
ethnic Armenians or Jews. At the same time they are trying to deny
the Genocide, saying that the "massacred" Armenians in fact turned
into Alavis.

Dyunbdar also refuses to believe that Halacoglu indeed has the lists
of Armenian "donme’s". He thinks that Halacoglu, who has dedicated all
his life to the denial of the Armenian Genocide, would have long ago
published those lists and translated them into all known languages,
if he only had them.

One could think that Dyundar’s conclusions explain everything. But
the so-called lists of "donme" Armenians were made in 1936-1937 and
their discovery after 70 years must have some reasons.

Let us not forget that although Erdogan’s Ilsamist "Justice and
Prosperity" party has not deprived yet the Turkish elite of its
privileges, but has laid background for raising the question of certain
"donme’s", converted Jews from Salonikae, who make the major mart of
that elite.

On August 29 "El Aziz" newspaper published an article, which
illustrated all the agiotage about Halacoglu’s statements from the
aspect of the Jewish elite of Turkey. That is a remarkable article
and should be referred to in another publication.

ARMENIAN THEATERS TO PARTAKE IN THE FESTIVAL OF EXPERIMENTAL THEATRES

armradio.am
07.09.2007 16:26

Two Armenian theatres are participating in the annual Internationa19th
Festival of Experimental Theatres.

Noyyan Tapan was told from RA Ministry of Culture that the Puppet
Theatre after Hovhannes Tumanyan will perform the "Hungry" performance
by S.Mrozhek (director Narine Gevorgyan), and the "Goal" Theatre will
present "My Death" performance (director Arthur Ter-Danielyan).

NEW COOPERATION POSSIBILITIES SEEN

Yerkir
06.09.2007 16:16

YEREVAN (YERKIR) "The French Socialist Party and the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation have close ties. I do not wish to interfere in
the domestic politics because there are elections coming but knowing
well the role of the ARF in the Armenian history, I want that role to
be greater," French Socialist Party First Secretary Francois Hollande
said at a news conference today held at the ARF Bureau.

He added that they have many things in common with the ARF. He reminded
that both parties cooperate in the Socialist International. He pointed
to the warm relations between Armenia and France.

He said many agreements were reached during the visit of former French
President Jacque Chirac.

Hollande said his visit is also aimed at knowing the political
positions of Armenia better. He said that during his meeting with
the Armenian president, many issues were discussed, including the
French-Turkish relations. As a socialist party we are for the talks
with Turkey to join EU and we have not changed our position unlike
President Sarkozy, he said.

"But the first pre-requisite is that Turkey should recognize the
Armenian Genocide," he said, adding that his party had contributed
a lot to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France.

Among the issues discussed was the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "France
is following the process and is a part of it. We want the process to
bring results which will contribute to the stability in the region,"
Hollande said.

ARMENIAN CULTURE ON SHOWSOURCE: NORTH SIDE COURIER AUTHOR: XAVIER

Village Voice.com.au
e/20070905/NWS05/709050311/-1/nws/Armenian+culture +on+show

Sept 5 2007
Australia

Education

Art, music, dance and plenty of food will be the highlights of the
annual Armenian Cultural Festival.

Performances will include a special show from the Armenian Sydney
Dance Company (ASDC), a fashion parade with designer Alicia Hollen,
Armenian didgeridoo player Edwin Safarian and Mike Lane from Australian
band Rivertribe.

The ASDC rehearse every Tuesday night in the Armenian Culture Centre
in Willoughby. At the festival a variety of stalls will sell food,
arts and crafts from Armenian culture and history.

Last year more than 25,000 people attended the festival, and this
year even more people are expected. Organised by Australian-Armenian
network, Hye Hoki, this is one of the biggest Armenian festivals
in Australia.

VAZGEN MANUKIAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO EXISTENCE OF REALIZED PUBLIC MOVEMENT DURING ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 5, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "The government model formed in
Armenia hinders the development of the country, and the forthcoming
presidential elections are measures to change that model," Vazgen
Manukian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Union, stated at
the press conference held on September 5.

In his opinion, according to this model, which was created after the
Karabakh war, there is a group of selects inside the state, who enjoy
all the priviledges: they even remain unpunished for committing a
murder. Vazgen Manukian mentioned that first of all a realized public
movement is necessary during the elections in order to change that
model. "If there is no such movement, Serge Sargsian will be elected
President," he said.

About 10 candidates will take part in the forthcoming elections,
according to Vazgen Manukian, and only three or four out of them will
be "pivotal". In response to the question of why he does not take
part in the discussions concerning the common opposition candidate,
Vazgen Manukian said: "If the common candidate is not obvious, he
cannot be decided through drinking coffee and discussions."

He expressed conviction that Levon Ter-Petrosian will not run for
the forthcoming presidential elections. "He does not need to be
nominated, taking into consideration the public opinion. However, if
Levon Ter-Petrosian puts forward his candidature, I will not withdraw
mine all the same." Vazgen Manukian denied the opinion, according to
which there are problems between him and the first President, saying:
"There was a political and not a personal struggle between us."

LEBANESE ARMY CHIEF PRAISES ARMY’S PERSEVERANCE AGAINST MILITANTS
by Rym Ghazal

The Daily Star website
4 Sep 07
Beirut

"Army Chief Lauds his ‘Brave Men’ for Triumphing Against Terror;
Sulayman Praises Military’s Perseverance Against Fatah al-Islam"

BEIRUT: Lebanese army commander General Michel Suleiman on saluted his
"brave men" Monday after the army declared victory in its three-month
struggle against Fatah al-Islam militants at the Nahr al-Barid
refugee camp.

"In the name of national unity, you overthrew terrorism through your
victory," the general said in an official address to the army.

In what is being hailed as a historic victory for the Lebanese Army
against terrorism, Suleiman praised the army’s relentless perseverance
in the face of the Al-Qaeda-inspired militants, whose leader, Shaker
al-Absi, was confirmed dead Monday after his wife and others identified
his body.

"The whole nation now looks up to you with the great pride and
confidence…

and this victory is a gift to the spirits of the army and resistance
martyrs," said Suleiman.

The Lebanese army said on Monday it lost 163 soldiers in the battle
and between 400 to 500 soldiers were wounded in the fighting, with
many of them permanently disabled.

The victory, he said, is also a gift to troops wounded in action as
well as "to all the Lebanese and Palestinian brethren who rejected
the phenomenon of terrorism and stood by your side throughout the
confrontation."

Suleiman praised the troops for their "extraordinary" performance in
battle, stressing that victory "belongs to the whole Lebanese people."

The army commander also called on his troops to "abide by the national
principles and adhere to discipline."

The commander urged his men to "keep your rifles aimed in the proper
direction at the Israeli enemy and at terror … until it is fully
uprooted."

He said sacrifices made in the confrontation that broke out on May 20
"remain much less than the price that the nation would have paid had
the hand of terror remained loose and continued its meddling."

Praise for the army continued to pour in for the second day since its
victory Sunday, with and officials across the political spectrum and
religious figures phoning and congratulating the head of the army.

Syndicates, professional orders, the Maronite League, the Armenian
Tashnak Party, and the vice president of the Higher Shi’i Council,
Shaykh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, all praised the army and its victory.

Qabalan said the army and the resistance constitute the "formidable
fortress" protecting Lebanon, adding: "The victory proves that our army
is unbeatable and is the shield of this country against all plots."

The Maronite League called the army the backbone of the constitutional
institutions as it is the best representative of the unity needed in
the country.

"Let politicians learn from the army’s unity … and how that unity
serves best in protecting the country," said a statement released by
the League.

In an interview with OTV on Sunday night, MP Michel Aoun also praised
the army and commented on the "great difficulty" it faced due to
years of "neglect."

"It was a costly victory … the army was not being supported enough to
be able to combat terrorism," said Aoun on Sunday night. "We need to
accept the reality the army faces … and the intelligence apparatus
that needs to be updated and supported."

In addition to Lebanese figures, praise for the army flooded in from
Palestinian officials.

The head of the Joint Lebanese Palestinian Committee, Khalil Makkawi,
praised the army’s victory, calling it a victory for "the law,"
and adding that the army proved its ability to protect Lebanon’s
sovereignty.

"Refugee camps will no longer be open to such incidents," Makkawi
added.

"There will be an internal force in coordination with the army."

IRANIAN CITIZENS TURN OUT TO SERVE IN SEPARATIST’S ARMED FORCES IN ARMENIAN-OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 3 2007

Armenian religious organizations operating in Iran deceive Iranian
citizens of Armenian origin and send them to serve in ‘Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’ armed forces in the territories administered by separatist
regime, APA reports quoting resources in Iran. Iranian servicemen
detained two Armenian trespassers in the region bordering on the
occupied Azerbaijani territories.

They were identified to be Iranian citizens, Isfahan Armenians. One
of the detainees – 27-29 year old Mikhak Teymurian said he went to
Nagorno Karabakh by propaganda of religious center of Iranian Armenians
Khalifagareyi-ye-Erameni. Teymurian said the center propagandizes
that each Iranian Armenian who will serve in the army of "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic" for a year will be given land, house and provided
conditions for leaving for one of European countries.

Teymurian said he served in the army of ‘Nagorno Karabakh Republic’
for eighteen months, but was given nothing they had been promised. He
underlined that he suffered much and that’s why fled to Iran. /APA/