Author: Badalian Vardan

"ARMENIANS ALSO REMEMBER "BLACK JANUARY" WHEN SOVIET ARMY CAME TO SAVE ARMENIANS OF BAKU WHO BECAME VICTIMS
OF MASSACRE FOR ALREADY SEVERAL DAYS," SPOKESPERSON FOR ARMENIAN FM SAID

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: "Armenians also remember the "Black
January" in Baku when the Soviet Army came not to press the movement
for freedom but to save the Armenians of Baku who become victims of
massacre for already several days," spokesperson for the Armenian
foreign minister Vladimir Karapetian told Armenpress, referring to the
circumstance that January 20 in Azerbaijan is considered the Day of
Tragedy in January when in 1990 the Russian army entered Azerbaijan
and killed innocent people.

"Really, the Soviet army was late and when they blockaded the 8
tyrants the crime had already been committed. As a result over two
hundred thousand Armenians escaped from Baku," Karapetian reminded.

Speaking to a news conference in Yerevan the chief of the Communist
party Ruben Torosian said he had raised the issue last week in Moscow
when meeting with his Russian counterpart Gennady Zyuganov.

The murder of darker-skinned immigrants from the Caucasus and Central
Asia is widely blamed on neo-Nazi skinhead groups openly operating
in Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and other Russian cities.

Torosian lamented in Yerevan saying it was very difficult to see
how a nation that was on the forefront of fighting against fascism
is giving birth to neo-Nazi groups. Tigran Karapetian, head of the
People’s Party, said Russians have always been ‘pronounced chauvinists’
and their attacks are not against Armenians alone, but against people
from the Caucasus and Central Asia.

"Friendship is over when blood spills. We can accept Russians as
friends but when they kill Armenians we deem it unacceptable," he said.

The most recent of those killings was reported last week when a
16 year-old Armenian boy was stabbed to death near Moscow, but
reports from Moscow were overshadowed by the murder of Hrant Dink,
an Armenian-Turkish journalist, slain in Istanbul.

Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations met in Strasbourg

ArmRadio.am
26.01.2007 11:41

January 25 in Strasbourg the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations
met in the framework of the PACE ad hoc Commission on Nagorno
Karabakh. Charmin of the Commission Lord Russell Johnston presented
the further deeds. Agreements were reached on a number of questions:
first, in the first half of 2007 the Commission will visit the region –
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh – to have meetings; second,
everything should be done to accomplish Resolution #1416; third,
propaganda of hatred and military rhetoric should be stopped; fourth,
the meetings should continue for the benefit of further development
of relations.

According to the Chairman of RA National Assembly, head of the
Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe Tigran Torosyan, one can speak about the results of
such meetings only after speeches are voiced during the next PACE
session, which will include no propaganda of hatred, dissemination of
insincerity. Then we can say that such meetings are useful. Otherwise,
it is hard to anticipate any use, since such meeting are not targeted
at the resolution of the issue, but can promote the improvement of
the atmosphere and relative normalization of relations.

Pamuk sees defenders of 301 responsible for Dink’s murder

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Jan 22 2007

People are still paying tribute to Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who was killed on Friday, by laying flowers at the scene
of murder.

Guncelleme: 16:32 TSÝ 22 Ocak 2007 PazartesiISTANBUL – The
responsibility for the murder of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink
should be laid at the door of those who tried to portray him as an
enemy of Turkey, Turkey’s Noble Laureate Orhan Pamuk said late Sunday.

Speaking during a visit to the offices of the Argos newspaper in
Istanbul, where Dink was gunned down Friday, Pamuk said that those
who were still defending article 301 of the Turkish penal code were
responsible of Dink’s death.

"Certainly we all are responsible…. But firstly, those who declared
our brother an enemy of Turkey are responsible," Pamuk said.

Pamuk, who along with Dink was also tried under notorious article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which covers the crime of "insulting
Turkishness", said that Dink, who was the editor in chief and founder
of Agos, was killed because he expressed his thoughts.

Famous Turkish singer Sezen Aksu visited the Dink family and spoke
of her sadness at having lost one of Turkey’s most courageous citizens.

–Boundary_(ID_5y+vBPvZnw+07qpPQa71PQ)- –

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

January 22, 2007
___________________

PRIMATE MEETS WITH FAMILY OF SLAIN JOURNALIST, SPEAKS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), has arrived in Istanbul for the funeral
of slain Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Archbishop Barsamian will be
representing His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, and the Armenian-American community at the funeral.

The Primate was received at the Patriarchate by His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob II Mutafyan, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.
The Patriarch and the Primate met privately to discuss the state of
the Armenian community in Turkey following the assassination. They
also reviewed plans for Dink’s funeral, which will be held Tuesday,
January 23, 2007, at the St. Mary Church next to the Patriarchate.

Following his meeting with the Patriarch of Istanbul, the Primate was
received at the offices of Agos, the paper Dink led as editor. He had
an opportunity to comfort and speak with the colleagues and friends
of Hrant Dink who plan to carry on his work in publishing Agos. It was
on the doorstep of his office that Dink was assassinated last Friday.

Following his visit to the Agos editorial offices, the Primate paid
a private, pastoral visit to Rakel Dink, Hrant’s wife, at their home.
The Primate conveyed the personal prayers of His Holiness Karekin II
as well as those of the more than 1 million Armenian-Americans.

Following his pastoral visit with Rakel Dink and her children, the
Primate spoke with CNN International, which is in Turkey covering
the assassination.

Dink, a long-time champion of the Armenian community in Istanbul, was
shot down Friday outside his office. In 2005, Dink was charged with
insulting Turkey by writing about the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey between 1915 and 1918. The Turkish government’s official policy
is to deny that the genocide occurred. One suspected killer has been
arrested, and authorities have several others in custody.

Before departing for Istanbul the Primate led a requiem service at New
York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral. He directed all Armenian Churches
throughout the Eastern Diocese to hold such services on Sunday,
January 21, 2007.

"We are gathered today to join the world in grieving the loss of a
brave man, a talented journalist, Hrant Dink. His assassination in
Istanbul represents not only a loss for the Armenian people, of whom
he was a faithful son and articulate writer, but a loss for all people
of the world who love truth, free speech and responsible journalism,"
the Primate said in his remarks before those gathered at the St. Vartan
Cathedral. "He used his position to challenge those who deny the
Armenian Genocide, to shine the light of truth upon that dark chapter
and educate his neighbors about a shameful past that is hidden."

"For discussing the truth – the attempted extermination of the
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey – he was harassed on the street, tried
in court, and, ultimately, shot dead outside of his office," the
Primate continued. "May God rest his soul, and may He welcome this
noble champion of the Armenian people into His heavenly kingdom."

For the Primate’s complete remarks, visit the News and Events section
of the Eastern Diocese’s website:

— 1/22/07

# # #

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Jan 19 2007

Besnainou: Turkey’s membership is in EU’s interest

Turkey’s European Union membership is in the interests of the EU
itself, said Pierre Besnainou, chair of the European Jewish Council,
on Thursday, adding, "Turkey is a country that can also positively
contribute to the stability of the region."

Besnainou met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
during a visit to Ankara yesterday, a meeting he later described as
"very interesting."

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with the premier,
Besnainou expressed his firm belief that Turkey’s EU membership will
benefit both sides, and underlined Turkey’s positive role in the
Middle East. "Turkey is a country that can ensure stability in the
region, and this has been Turkey’s policy for many years," Besnainou
said. He also expressed belief that Turkey can be effective in
convincing the Palestinians to reassure Israel about the condition of
an Israeli soldier who was abducted early last summer. Adding that he
also discussed with Prime Minister Erdogan rising anti-Semitism in
Europe, Besnainou said he was happy with the situation of the Jewish
minority in Turkey.

Asked to comment on the Armenian genocide claims, Besnainou said he
supports the approach by Erdogan for reconciliation with the
Armenians. "We believe that Turkey’s opening all its archives to
historians and scholars will help illuminate this matter," he added.

The Turkish government is seeking the support of the strong Jewish
lobby, particularly in the U.S., to block efforts for recognition of
the so-called Armenian genocide. A draft resolution seeking
recognition of the Armenian genocide claims is likely to be approved
by the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

Turkey strongly opposes the claims that its predecessor state, the
Ottoman government, caused Armenian deaths in a planned genocide. The
Turkish government has said the toll is wildly inflated and that
Armenians were killed or displaced in civil unrest during the
empire’s collapse and World War I conditions. Ankara’s proposal to
Yerevan to set up a joint commission of historians to study the
events of 1915 is still awaiting a positive response from the
Armenian side.

Asia News, Italy
Jan 19 2007

Journalist who spoke out on Armenian genocide killed

by Mavi Zambak

Hrant Dink, editor of Agos, had received death threats and in 2005
had been condemned for "insulting Turkish national identity."

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – Hrant Dink, Turkish journalist of Armenian
origin, was killed this afternoon around 3 p.m. local time, as he
left the offices of the newspaper he directed. He was shot four
times by, it is thought, a young man of 18 or 19 years who then fled
through the crowd of one of the busiest streets of the European
quarter of Istanbul, Sisli.

Dink, age 53, had been given a six-month suspended sentence by judges
in Istanbul in October 2005 for having "insulted Turkish national
identity." Editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper, Agos,
Dink had been tried for an article he wrote in 2004 on the genocide
of the Armenians. His murder is a shock for all Turks: an improntu
protest took place among those who gathered at the doorway where he
was shot; protesters shouted "Hrant is not dead, his freedom shall
not die."

In a television interview broadcast shortly after the shooting, his
friend and fellow journalist, Aydin Engin, who had been sentenced
together with Dink on the basis of the same article 301 of the
Turkish penal code, recalled how just yesterday the two had spoken on
the telephone about their six-month sentence, which had simply been
postponed indefinitely, but had not been definitively suspended. And
how Hrant said that he was not afraid and was ready for anything.
Aydin had urged him many times to accept the bodyguard that police
had promised him after the latest threats made against him, but Hrant
once again refused saying that he did not want to be defended in his
freedom and that he did not fear the dangers he faced.

Engin recalls his colleague as a man who always spoke openly about
the search for truth, freedom and democracy. "All of Turkey has been
wounded by this assassination, it is a source of mourning for the
entire nation," Engin said without hesitation; he sees in this murder
a further attempt by those who are against Turkey’s entry into Europe
to arouse indignation against Turks among Europeans. Various
government figures have explicitly condemned this horrible
occurrence. President Sezer himself said without hesitation that it
was a "brutal" act.

In an emergency press conference organized in Ankara, Turkish Premier
Erdogan said: "The spilling of this blood has left us dumbfounded and
this act was certainly committed to destroy our peace, freedom and
democracy. In the name of the Turkish people and nation, I condemn
this act and everything will be done to find those responsible. I
deplore those who have bloodied their hands. We do not accept this
provocation which aims at destroying the unity of this country and
creating contrasts between the different cultures and religions of
Turkey. Nothing is known about who committed this murder, nor what
motivated it, but I can already say that I will do everything
possible to take part in the funeral of our journalist, wherever and
with whatever rite it is held."

&art=8281&size=A

PanARMENIAN.Net

Akdamar Church To Be Opened on 11th and Not 24th of April
18.01.2007 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Akdamar Church, situated on Akdamar Island on
Van Lake in eastern city of Van, will be opened on April 11. Turkish
Press reports that the church has been renovated with the cooperation
of Van Governor`s Office and Culture & Tourism Ministry. The
publication says that Akdamar Church was constructed by architect
bishop Manuel between 915 and 921 AD under the supervision of King
Gagik I. `Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the
church draws attraction with its stone workmanship and the relieves on
its walls.’ The Turkish Press writes.

It is worth mentioning earlier it was declared that the church will be
opened on April 24, the Remembrance Day of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide. But after protests of the Armenian Diaspora in Turkey,
particularly after Armenian Apostolic Church Constantinople Archbishop
Mesrop Mutafian’s protests the day of opening was moved to an earlier
date.

In 2006 Armenian specialists were engaged in the process of
reconstruction. The PanARMENIAN.Net journalist has find out from the
Armenian Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs that an Armenian cross
has been constructed on the dome of the church.

PanARMENIAN.Net

New Armenian Town Being Built in California
12.01.2007 14:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The new Armenian town development is bounded by
inside Santa Clara, Highway 41, M Street and O Street. The 10-acre
redevelopment project is becoming reality as the first building rises
from an area once filled with the modest homes of Armenian
immigrants. This will be the new home of Fresno’s 5th District Court
of Appeals. It will also be the anchor of the ‘Armenian Town’
redevelopment project, envisioned as a mix of office and retail, as
well as public open space and parking. Jeanette Jurkovich, Friends of
Armenian Town, says, "Cities across America embrace old and new
development. They know it’s not an either/or." Jurkovich says these
five homes from the old Armenian Town were to become part of this
project.

Jurkovich says this area on the 10 acre site across from the Armenian
Church would create a bridge from the past to the present. And once
restored, could become home to retail, restaurants or art galleries,
reports ABC.

PROGRAMS OF "ARTN" 24-HOUR LOS ANGELES TELEVISION COMPANY CAN NOW BE
WATCHED ON-LINE

LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The website
() of the ARTN (Armenian-Russian Television Network)
television company operating in Los Angeles was opened recently. It
ensures Internet broadcasts all over the world, and on October 1 the
company started free satellite broadcasting. Robert Oglakhchian, the
TV company’s founder and executive director, said during a talk with
NT correspondent that ARTN is the first Armenian television company to
have a 24-hour Internet broadcasting. They broadcast all over North
America – the US, Cananda and Mexico and have an audience of about 1.5
million. By the way, the Armenian Public Television Company broadcasts
by the same satellite but on the paid basis. According to R.
Oglakhchian, it is 5 years that Armenian programs have been broadcast
by the US cable television in the area of Big Los Angeles. However,
they are broadcast by various channels, at various hours and their
maximum time is one hour. It was for the first time when in 2003 many
Armenian TV programs were included in ARTN, whose cable network
includes Glendale, Burbank and Lacrasenta cities. He indicated Krist
Manarian’s daily program "Our Day", "Good Appetite" and "Our Show" of
Grisha Aghakhanian, the program "Vardanank", as well as news updates
presented by Gagik Khojasarian and Petros Sargsian in cooperation with
the Noyan Tapan information and analytical agency as popular programs
which are favored by viewers. On April 7, 2006, the TV company moved
into a new spacious studio. It is envisaged to make improvements in
the quality of programs soon. ARTN has prepared a 4-hour New Year
program for its viewers. It will be demonstrated from 9.00 pm of
December 31 to 1:00 am of January 1, 2007 by Los Angeles time, then it
will shown again from 10 am to 2 pm on January 1 and from 9:00 pm to 1
am of January 2. ARTN was created in 1985 in Los Angeles by Frunze
Oglakhchian. By the way, its founder – the television company
RussianTV is the first Russian TV company in the US. In 1991,
F. Oglakhchian also created the 24-hour Armenian radio in the US, then
the monthly "Ashkharhi Shurj" which has been published for 13 on end,
and its subscribers will receive the 151st issue of the montly on
January 1, 2007. Since 1996, the brothers Frunze and Robert
Oglakhchian have been running their business together. Speaking about
the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, Robert Oglakhchian
said: "Let the people give their votes to the right persons and make a
correct choice. Every nation deserves its government. Our National
Assembly does not correspond to our nation. Let us at last have a
National Assembly composed of serious intellectuals and experts."
"Everything we do in the Diaspora should be done in Armenia, an
opportunity should be created so that the next generation will carry
out all this in Armenia," he concluded.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 29 2006

Nazim Ibrahimov: I am not satisfied with the idea of inactivity of
Azerbaijani Diaspora

[ 29 Dec. 2006 17:23 ]

There is no controversy among Azerbaijani Diasporas

The chief of State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad
Nazim Ibrahimov’s interview to APA

– Are you satisfied with the present situation of Azerbaijani
Diasporas?
– Azerbaijani Diasporas are developing rapidly. We have not thought
about so dynamic development of the Diasporas. President Ilham
Aliyev’s special care created turning point in the development of our
Diasporas. Now we should prefer to strengthen lobbyism and to choose
the tactics of attacking using our solidarity. We have begun to work
on it. Azerbaijan has always had Diaspora. If Azerbaijani citizen
lives abroad, it means our Diaspora exists.
– How would you estimate the power of the Diaspora?
– Every Diaspora has its history and it has subjective and objective
factors. We have begun to work with our Diasporas recently. At the
same time I do not agree with the idea of the inactivity of
Diasporas. Our national self-esteem does not lag behind, but goes
forward. Some forces tried to make Azerbaijanis forget national
back-ground. Azerbaijanis living abroad establish their organizations
and strengthen. And it means that Azerbaijani Diaspora is strong. In
future we will be able to say that Azerbaijani Diaspora is the
strongest Diaspora of the world.
– You are speaking about the power of Azerbaijani Diaspora, but we do
not observe real solidarity.
– When Heydar Aliyev returned from Moscow, I asked him whether the
growth of industrial potential of some USSR countries depend on
leadership or there is another reason. He retold me an interesting
event. He noted that, USSR Political Bureau raised some issues to
take Air-conditioner Plant to Baku. But this plant was built in
Ukraine. Actually not leadership of Ukraine, but the leadership of
the union realized it. If we compare the activity of the Diaspora
with this event, we can say that Armenian Diasporas do not have their
own power. On the other hand there is another factor. Some forces are
for Armenians in information war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We
should struggle to make world believe that we are just. Though there
are no Armenian Diasporas in some countries of the world, they are
supported. It means when we say that Armenian Diaspora is stronger,
every-one should understand that it is not their power. Azerbaijan
remained under occupation of other empires and states for centuries
and our compatriots lived in different social structures. Therefore
there is difference in mentality. Sometimes it impedes our
solidarity.
– The information was spread that an Armenian living abroad
transferred $120m to Armenian state budget. Why don’t we observe
these facts in our country?
– We have not reached this stage yet. Our aim is to help strengthen
the Diaspora in the countries where Azerbaijanis live. You know that
there are strong Armenian businessmen in the world…
– But there are strong Azerbaijani businessmen in the world too.
– We are different from Armenia… I think that Azerbaijan’s economy is
developing rapidly and our financial sources are enough to provide
the country. We intend to help most Azerbaijani organizations in the
world to strengthen. A day will come when rich Azerbaijanis will
define what spheres need help. But now we have no intention to ask
somebody for help.
– Several Diaspora organizations have separated recently, and in most
cases the committee you lead was said to be the cause of it.
– Azerbaijani government’s care and attention on Diasporas’ activity
caused fight for the leadership in a number of Diaspora
organizations. There is no controversy in Diaspora organizations.
Even separated organizations unite around Azerbaijan. They can not
agree on the problem leadership.
– What about people leaving Azerbaijan and coming to the country?
– Most of the people left Azerbaijan repent. Most of the emigrants
have returned. We get a lot of letters from Azerbaijanis living
abroad. The majority of them want to return to the country.
– How many Azerbaijani organizations are there in the world?
– Over 300.
– Where is our strongest Diaspora?
– I do not want to answer. Most of our Diaspora Organizations are
working hard.
– When Ramil Safarov murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan, your
approach to the case was not welcomed. You said that his actions were
not heroic and it was against Azerbaijan. Later you realized several
programs in the direction of recognition of Azerbaijan in Hungary.
What were the results of it?
– We did much. We have never made idle statements. Those who want to
form their policy on Ramil Safarov’s actions are wrong. Ramil
Safarov’s actions had a negative influence on the international image
of Azerbaijan.
– But some think that this incident had positive features…
– Armenians claim in the international organizations that
Azerbaijanis are cut-throat and display facts. I repeat that this
incident had a negative influence on Azerbaijan.
– What is the State Committee established on the struggle against
illegal migrants in Russia doing?
– There is nothing to worry. Corresponding bodies of both countries
are working on it. We try to solve the problem quietly. Azerbaijan
state supports every Azerbaijani. /APA/