Author: Badalian Vardan

ALMOST ALL COMPANIES OF RA MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION OPERATED AT PROFIT THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 27 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, almost all the companies
of the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication operated at a
profit: they received a total of revenues of 13 bln 663.9 mln drams
(about 37 mln USD) and a profit of 607.4 mln drams. The RA Minister
of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian said at the December
27 press conference that these companies transferred taxes of 2 bln
412.21 mln drams to the state budget in 2006 against taxes of 1 bln
734.1 mln drams last year. According to A. Manukian, preliminary
estimates show that this year cargo transportation by railway made
2,685 thousand tons against 2,665 thousand tons last year. Exports
by railway grew by 18%, imports by railway grew by 13%.

TO OUR READERS: Please Note that the California Courier will go on our
semi-annual vacation. We will return for publication on January 11, 2007.
Happy New Year and a Merry Armenian Christmas to All.

California Courier Online, December 28, 2006

1 – Commentary
Who Publicizes the Genocide More?
Armenians or Turks?

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – Armenian American Nurses Association Holds Flu Clinic
3 – Judge Sinanian Appointed Supervising
Site Judge of Burbank Courthouse
4 – History Channel Documentary Films in
Etchmiadzin for Spear That Pierced Christ
5 – The Genocide Education Project Reaches
Hundreds of Teachers at National Conference
6 – California Will Begin Plans to Build
Genocide Memorial in Sacramento
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1 – Commentary
Who Publicizes the Genocide More?
Armenians or Turks?

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

The Foreign Minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, announced this week that the
Turkish government is planning to launch in 2007 a new comprehensive propaganda
campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide. All previous Turkish government
attempts to bury the facts of the Armenian Genocide have ended in failure, after
wasting millions of dollars on lobbying firms and books by phony "scholars."
Ironically, the more the Turks try to deny the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey
in 1915, the greater the number of countries, international organizations and
individuals that recognize it.

In recent weeks, after the Argentinean Parliament recognized the Armenian
Genocide, Ankara warned that country’s Senate not to follow suit. Despite the
Turkish warning, and maybe because of it, the Argentinean Senate adopted the
Armenian Genocide resolution unanimously! A couple of months ago, when the French
Parliament adopted a bill that would make it a crime to deny the Armenian
Genocide, the Turkish government gave a similar warning to the French Senate. If
the Turks continue to irritate the French by their threats and obnoxious
insults, I have no doubt that the Senate would reciprocate by adopting thisnew law
by an overwhelming majority!

Here are a few other items of interest to our readers:

— Several Turkish newspapers reported last week that the Armenian American
lobby scored a major victory when Pres. Bush could not get the Senate to
confirm Richard Hoagland, the Ambassador-designate for Armenia. The Turkishpress
quoted an analyst as saying that the blocking of Hoagland’s nomination was a
major success for Armenians: "The Armenian lobby has never been this strong."

— The Canadian Jewish News reported on December 14 that Israel has developed
"a rich friendship" with Shiite Muslim Azerbaijan. "The relationship was born
in 1992 when Israel supported Azerbaijan against Armenia in the Karabagh
War," the Jewish publication stated. Since then, Israel has continued "to provide
intelligence, security and military training to Azerbaijan…. Israel’s Backcell
is the second-largest cell phone operator" in Azerbaijan and is "one of many
Israeli businesses doing brisk trade" in Baku.

— The Turkish Culture Minister announced last week that the official opening
ceremonies for the renovated Aghtamar Armenian Church would take place on
April 24. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrob Moutafian, issued an
uncharacteristically bold statement, saying that holding the ceremony on that
date would be exploiting Armenian people’s suffering for political gain. He
said that neither he nor any other Armenian would participate in such a
ceremony on April 24. It has been obvious to me from the very beginning that Turkish
officials were planning to exploit the renovation of Aghtamar for political
purposes, independently of the date of the ceremony. Maybe the Patriarch,
instead of objecting, should have accepted that date and turned the ceremony planned
for April 24 into a commemoration of the Armenian Genocide — which would
have been a first in Turkey since 1915.

— Sylvester Stallone announced last week that he is interested in making
Franz Werfel’s famous novel, "The Forty Days of Musa Dagh," into a blockbuster
movie. Turks went into total panic and organized a worldwide e-mail campaign
urging Stallone not to be "an instrument of Armenian lobbies." Armenians onthe
other hand were so excited that they started celebrating as if the movie was
already made. Surprisingly, neither Turks nor Armenians seem to remember that
Stallone has made this same announcement several times in the past with nothing
to show for. However, should Stallone end up making this movie someday, he can
count on the Turks to provide a lot of free publicity, ensuring its success!

— Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan, told the editors of the New York
Times last week that they had become "a tool in the hands of the Armenians." He
was unhappy that the N.Y. Times had decided that the newspaper would refer to
the Armenian Genocide as a historical fact. This is the second time that the
Turkish Prime Minister has personally complained to the N.Y. Times on this
issue in the past couple of years. Maybe it’s about time that Erdogan realized
that the N.Y. Times, true to its noble calling, is a tool for the truth andnot
a tool for Turkish denialism.

–Father Serop Azarian, the Pastor of the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic
Church in Granite City/St. Louis, sent me an e-mail describing his encounter with
Turkish novelist and Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, at a lecture sponsored by the
Washington University in St. Louis on Nov. 27. Fr. Azarian said in his
e-mail: "Although in his speech Pamuk came close to mentioning the Armenians,
denounced the criminal regime of the Young Turks and the delusional Turkishleaders
of today, and spoke about the need for Turkey to be more open and responsible,
he did not say one word about Armenians or the Genocide. He was cautious and,
I think, rather cowardly in not telling the truth. While signing his books,I
approached him and asked him if he would write a novel about prominent
Armenian Genocide victims, such as novelist and Parliament member Krikor Zohrab.
Initially, he warmly said (in a very low voice): ‘I live there [Turkey]. I cannot
do it.’ Then in a louder and more blunt tone he said: ‘As a novelist, I
choose what I write.’ " Later on, in December, while in Sweden to receive the Nobel
Prize for Literature, when asked about the Armenian Genocide, Pamuk replied:
"No comment!" It appears that Turkish denialists have succeeded in scaring
this great writer into silence with their threats.

Let’s see what 2007 has in store for the Armenian Cause. One thing is
certain: Armenians can count on Turkish denialists to continue publicizing the
Armenian Genocide by their extremist actions.

************************************** ************************************

2 – Armenian American Nurses Association Holds Flu Clinic
By John Krikorian
GLENDALE – The Armenian American Nurses Association (AANA) joined forces with
the Glendale Adventist Medical Center and held a "free" Flu clinic with the
assistance of energetic student volunteers from Glendale High School.
The AANA has been coordinating this event since 1998.
The nurses administered over 300 doses of flu shots to community members.
The flu clinics were held in Glendale’s St. Mary’s Apostolic Armenian Church
and also at various Adult Day Care Centers. The volunteer nurses that helped
at St. Mary’s Armenian Church were Rosine Der-Tavitian, the Flu clinic
coordinator, along with other nurses from the AANA and employees of the centers.
The nurses that assisted the event were Mary Konyalian RN, MSN, and current
president of the AANA, Sossi Mikaelian RN, Ani Iskenderian RN, C RAC-C, and
Aghavni Khachadourian RN.
"Once again, Glendale can take deep pride in having the excellent caliber of
youth from Glendale High School that helped fill out forms, translations and
other logistic work that was needed to accomplish our mission in serving the
Glendale community. They gave up their leisure time as did the Armenian American
Nurses Association to serve the community," noted John Krikorian, consultant,
Krikorian Marketing Group.
"It’s Not Flu As Usual" brochures were distributed by Krikorian Marketing
Group at the Flu Clinic supporting the County of Los Angeles Public Health
campaign that targets families and individuals, the medical community, businesses,
and community organizations. The brochures that will be distributed throughout
the community will be supported by a media advertising campaign that will
emphasize the importance of "Clean Hands" as the best form of preventive care to
avoid the Pandemic Flu. The campaign will be in Armenian, Russian, Arabic and
Farsi languages.
The Flu Clinic itself was under the direction of Mary Konyalian RN, MSN,
current president of the AANA and Rosine Der-Tavitian RN, BSN, PHN, flu clinic
coordinator, along with Krikorian Marketing Group.
************************************************** ***********************
3 – Judge Sinanian Appointed Supervising
Site Judge of Burbank Courthouse
LOS ANGELES – Last month, J. Stephen Czuleger, Presiding Judge-elect of the
Los Angeles County Superior Court appointed Judge Zaven V. Sinanian as site
supervising judge of the North Central District, Burbank courthouse. Judge
Sinanian will assume that position on January 8.
Among his duties, Sinanian will be supervising the judges, commissioners and
temporary judges who sit at the Burbank courthouse. He is the first Armenian
American judge to be appointed site judge in the North Central District, which
includes the Burbank and Glendale courthouses and has the largest
concentration of Armenian Americans outside of Yerevan.
Also, in December, 2006, Judge Sinanian was reelected by his colleagues as
the North Central District’s representative to the Los Angeles Superior Court’s
Executive Committee, which is the policy making body of the court. Sinanian
has been a member of the statewide Judicial Council Advisory Committee on
Access and Fairness, to which he was appointed by Chief Justice Ronald M. George
of the California Supreme Court in December, 2005.
Sinanian currently serves as vice-chair of the Los Angeles Superior Court
subcommittee on diversity, a member of that court’s Access and Fairness
committee, Outreach committee, Bench and Bar committee and the Alternative Dispute
Resolution committee.
Sinanian was appointed to the bench in June, 2002 by Governor Gray Davis. He
was elected to another term by the voters of Los Angeles County in 2004.
Since his appointment, Sinanian has presided over a variety of assignments,
including general criminal and civil trials, family law and probate cases,and
unlawful detainers.
"We are very pleased with Judge Sinanian’s appointment as the site judge,"
said Frank Zerunyan, Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association and a City
Councilman for the City of Rolling Hills Estates. "He is very qualified forthe
position, and I am not surprised at all by the fact that he has received this
important appointment so early in his judicial career," said Zerunyan.
Sinanian is a past Chairman of the Armenian Bar, and continues to participate
in its seminars, panel discussions and continuing education classes for
attorneys.
************************************************** ************************
4 – History Channel Documentary Films in
Etchmiadzin for Spear That Pierced Christ.
YEREVAN (Azg) – For the first time, a US film crew has traveled to Armenia to
investigate the Holy Lance in Etchmiadzin.
Producer Ken Winikur and Boston-based Northern Light Productions have
recently completed "The Spear of Christ", a one-hour documentary for the History
Channel’s, "Decoding the Past" series.
Filmed in over 4 countries, including Armenia and Turkey, the program follows
the legend of one of history’s most powerful relics on its 2000-year journey.
The spear that pierced the side of Jesus Christ while he was on the cross is
believed to hold miraculous powers. It has been linked to some of history’s
most powerful rulers and said to have been present at some of the greatest
battles ever waged.
Constantine and Charlemagne have waved the spear. The ruthless Adolf Hitler
coveted it. Today, four artifacts exist which claim to be this holy spear: one
in Vienna, one in Poland, one in the Vatican, and the mysterious lance of
Armenia. The program examines each in an effort to determine which, if any,is the
authentic Spear of Christ, and what powers each may hold.
Tufts Professor, Ina Baghdiantz McCabe, Darakjian Jafarian Chair of Armenian
History at Tufts University provides a historical analysisof Armenia and the
Spear. Unprecedented access to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and exclusive
footage of the Holy Lance being used in religious ceremonies will be seen.
"The story of its Holy Lance is virtually unknown to an American audience and
we are excited to feature it in our program," Winiker said.
Winikur’s previous film, Bet Herut, the end of the beginning, a one-hour
documentary investigating the rise and fall of a communal farming village in
Israel made its world premiere to a packed house at the 2003 Philadelphia Film
Festival. It has since gone on to show around the world, most recently on athree
city tour in Israel.
The information was rendered by Lola Koundakjian at the Armenian Poetry
Project on the web
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5 – The Genocide Education Project Reaches
Hundreds of Teachers at National Conference
WASHINGTON, DC – The Genocide Education Project expanded on its participation
in the annual conference of the National
Council for the Social Studies, which took place November 30th through
December 3rd in Washington, DC. The Genocide Education Project drew more than 700
educators to its information booth, disseminating new and varied instructional
materials about the Armenian Genocide.
Education Director, Sara Cohan, conducted a workshop on "Exploring the Impact
of the Armenian Genocide," incorporating genocide survivor photographs and
testimony. In addition, Cohan and Executive Director, Raffi Momjian conducted a
one-day teaching "clinic" entitled, "Teaching Genocide in the Age of
Genocide," in collaboration with the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, Facing History and Ourselves and the Choices Program at
Brown University.
This year’s hallmark conference for social studies educators drew
approximately 4500 educators from around the country. The Genocide Education Project’s
booth distributed information and guides about teaching the Armenian Genocide
in the classroom and collected educators’ contact information to keep them
informed about future projects and teacher training workshops it conducts and to
update them about the various teaching resources it develops.
After working together for the past year to organize the one-day clinic
"Teaching Genocide in the Age of Genocide," The Genocide Education Project led a
team of educators from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Facing
History and Ourselves, and the Choices Program at Brown University, providing an
approach to genocide education which considers causes, methods, parallel events,
individual responsibility, and prevention.
"Having the opportunity to work with educational organizations who share a
common mission was exhilarating" commented The Genocide Education Project’s
Executive Director, Raffi Momjian. He continued, "The result was exactly what we
had hoped for -teachers attending our presentations received a solid
introduction to the subject of genocide education and based on their post-clinic
comments, are ready to explore the subject with their students."
The Genocide Education Project also was selected to present a one-hour
workshop, "Exploring the Impact of the Armenian Genocide through Contemporary
Photographs and Survivor Testimony." Using a lesson plan developed by The Genocide
Education Project, based on the iWitness photograph exhibit by Levon Parian
and Ara Oshagan, teachers modeled
classroom activities using photographs and testimony of survivors of the
Armenian Genocide in order to better understand the impact of genocide.
Next year’s NCSS Annual Conference will be held in San Diego, California.
The Genocide Education Project is looking forward to continuing its outreach at
this and other conferences, working directly with educators, providing them
with innovative teaching material on the Armenian Genocide and professional
development opportunities to engage with colleagues on the subject.
The Genocide Education Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that
assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularlythe
Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials,
providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational workshops
**************************************** **********************************
6 – California Will Begin Plans to Build
Genocide Memorial in Sacramento.
By Peter Hecht
The Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Lloyd Levine says he came to understand his
Jewish cultural roots and comprehend a horrific epoch in history on a trip to
Israel in 2004.
He was at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, transfixed by cubes
stacked like children’s play blocks. Each depicted children who died of Nazi
genocide. A somber voice intoned their names as 1.6 million beams of light
reflected the toll of young lives taken.
"For the next several hours, I had the abiding urge to throw up," said
Levine, D-Van Nuys. "It makes you sick knowing what happened."
Levine returned to California determined to make his own contribution to the
victims by seeking a "dignified and quiet" memorial outside the Capitol to
honor those who "perished and suffered" in the Holocaust.
But as the bill he sponsored was debated and amended in the Legislature and
then signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Sept. 30, Levine’s vision grew
markedly.
Under Assembly Bill 1210, which goes into effect Jan. 1, California will
begin a quest to construct a memorial in Sacramento not only for victims and
survivors of the Holocaust – but for all people who faced genocide and ethnic
cleansing across the world and many generations.
On its face, the effort raises a poignant challenge by seeking to bring
together diverse peoples and histories to acknowledge acts of inhumanity from the
Holocaust of Nazi Germany to the killing fields of Cambodia to the ethnic
slaughter in Darfur.
Though still an ill-defined concept, the idea of such a memorial is stirring
emotional discussions among vast, varied communities affected by genocide.
In Glendale, Haig Hovsepian hopes the memorial will acknowledge the mass
murder of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in Turkey in 1915.
"A vast majority of Armenians who came to California were either survivors or
descendants of the victims of Armenian genocide," said Hovespian, community
relations director for Armenian National Committee of America. "If you wantto
boil it down, it is the reason that they are Californians today."
In Sacramento, Zang Fang, 36, believes such a monument should acknowledge
Hmong refugees who fled wanton killings in Laos during 30 years of retaliations
for the Hmong’s support of the United States’ secret war against communist
Pathet Lao in the 1970s.
Under AB 1210, a nine-member International Genocide Commission, including at
least six survivors or descendants of genocide, will be appointed to selecta
design and initiate private fundraising to build the memorial.
The bill declares that "California recognizes the atrocities of all ethnic
cleansing campaigns," including "the Holocaust, Kosovo, Armenian genocide,
Rwanda, African American slaves, Native Americans and the plight of the Hmong in
Southeast Asia."
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MINISTER SAYS RISE IN IMPORTS EVIDENCE OF IMPROVED SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Armenpress
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Trade and economic development
minister Karen Chshmaritain attributed today a nearly 21 percent
rise in imports in January-November of this year to improving life
conditions of his country fellows.

Speaking to a news conference Chshmaritain cited the official figures
of Armstat which say that Armenia’s trade in January-November rose
13.5 percent from a year ago to $2.847 billion.

However, Armenian exports rose 0.3 percent, while imports rose 20.9
percent to $1.952 billion with a trade deficit of $1.057 billion.

The minister explained the growth in imports saying unlike some years
ago now a substantial portion of imports make advanced technologies and
equipment which local companies bring to modernize their productions.

He said at the same time more Armenian companies buy expensive
construction materials and more Armenians buy expensive consumer goods.

The minister said by the end of the year foreign investments in Armenia
were expected to grow year-on-year 20-25 percent to $400 million.

According to Armstat, foreign investments in Armenia’s real sector
economy in January-September, not counting funds received by the
government and banks, were $298 million, including $149 million of
direct investments, which were 32 percent more form a year ago. The
volume of direct investments grew 8 percent.

The biggest investors were Armenia International Airports, VivaCell and
ArmenTel telephone operators, ArmenAl aluminum plant, the Zangezour
Metallurgical Plant, Synopsis, EPG Labs, Viaspher Technopark and
Yunicomp IT companies.

NEW YEARS MESSAGE FROM U.S. CHARGE D’AFFAIRES ANTHONY GODFREY

A1+
[05:06 pm] 26 December, 2006

On this first day of the New Year, I would like to thank the people
of Armenia for continuing to support the strong friendship and close
cooperation that exists between our two countries. This has been an
important year for U.S. – Armenian relations. Through U.S. assistance
programs, which have totaled over 1.6 billion dollars since 1992,
the United States is working to strengthen democratic institutions,
provide for a more stable and secure South Caucasus, and build the
economies of all three countries of the region.

As we look forward to 2007, it is my hope that Armenia and the United
States can work together to create a brighter future for the people of
Armenia. 2007 will be particularly significant, and my government is
committed to supporting Armenia as it works to establish itself as a
thriving democracy and a country where the benefits of economic growth
are shared broadly. The coming year will be especially important and
exciting since Armenia has the opportunity to display its commitment
to democracy by holding free and fair parliamentary elections.

As we look forward to 2007, I would like to express my admiration
for the Armenian people and thank you for the warm welcome you have
continued to show my family and me during our stay in your country. The
American people, the Embassy staff and I wish you a Merry Christmas,
a Happy New Year, and all the best in 2007.

Shnorhavor amanor yev surb ts’unund.

GUL CALLS FOR COOPERATION AGAINST ARMENIAN CLAIMS
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 25 2006

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has called for cooperation
between state institutions and nongovernmental organizations in the
‘fight’ against Armenian allegations of genocide.

In response to a motion from an opposition member of parliament, Gul
stated that Foreign Ministry and Turkish offices abroad carried out
comprehensive work to discover the historical facts on the Armenian
question.

"It will be appreciated that Turkey’s universities, nongovernmental
organizations, professional organizations and businessmen should
pay close attention to the issue and every single individual should
contribute to these efforts," Gul remarked.

Gul recalled that, one year ago, Prime Minister Erdogan had suggested
to the Armenian president the setting up of a joint committee of
Turkish and Armenian historians to research the facts and claims
regarding the 1915 events.

"However, we have not been able to receive a positive response to
this proposal," he added.

Abovian Armenian Cultural Association
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Website:
Email: [email protected]

Press Release
For immediate release
21 December 2006
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

Impressive lecture by Akcam in Amsterdam

By I. Drost

Well documented and eloquent, Turkish professor of History Taner Akcam, held
a lecture at University of Amsterdam on 18 December 2006. The meeting was
organised by CREA Studium Generale in cooperation with Humanist Broadcasting
Foundation (HUMAN) and Dutch Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Taner Akcam was invited to give a lecture in Amsterdam because of the
current debate in the Dutch media and politics on the Armenian Genocide.
HUMAN wanted to contribute in a positive way to this debate by improving the
knowledge on this matter. The event coincided with the publication of
Akcam’s new book "A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of
Turkish Responsibility", which will be published in Dutch in May 2007.

Prior to the lecture the participants to this event, among whom many members
of Turkish and Armenian communities of the Netherlands, watched the Dutch
documentary "A wall of silence" by Dorothee Forma, a HUMAN production in
1997. This documentary film parallels the personal and professional lives of
Armenian scholar Vahakn Dadrian and Turkish researcher Taner Akcam and their
call for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Introducing Taner Akcam professor Erik-Jan Zurcher, professor of Turkish
language and culture at the University of Leiden, mentioned that Akcam is
one of the scholars, who presents "the state of the art" in his field of
research. He combines in his research Armenian scientific publications,
documents from Ottoman archives and Turkish Military Tribunal of 1919 as
well as documents found in the German archives.

After Akcam’s speech many Turks stood up to protest rather than ask
questions, but Akcam peacefully and effectively managed to give clear
response and at the same time tried to pacify the Turks by repeating the
statement: "we have to learn to talk".

Akcam focussed in his lecture on his findings in Ottoman archives,
especially the material available in the Prime Ministerial Archives
(BaÅ~_bakanlık Osmanlı ArÅ~_ivi) in Istanbul. According to him a number of
documents can also be found online. At the same time he mentioned that lots
of documents have been removed from the archives. For the cleaning itself
there are more than enough evidences; lots of documents concerning Armenian
deportations and massacres have been destroyed during the crime.

He explained also how total cleaning of archives is impossible, even when
the government demanded to burn documents directly after reading. Orders and
documents were always copied for different departments and it is impossible
to retrace and destroy all of them.

Akcam said that the first deportations and forced migration already began in
1913 with the deportation of Greeks from the Aegean area. This forced
migration expanded to the other minorities: Assyrians and Muslims from
Bulgaria etc. whose lives were affected in different ways, depending on the
intention of the government. While the goal with respect to the non-Turkish
Muslims was the Turkification, in the case of the Armenians the intention to
annihilate the whole population is evident from many documents. Regarding to
the deportation this intention was present as the authorities were aware of
the effect of these deportations, but still continued to handle in the same
way. Other evident examples are the decrees issued by the government on the
Armenian properties, which gives strong indications that the intention of
the Young Turk rulers was the annihilation of Armenians. Akcam also
explained why UN Genocide Convention (1948) is applicable to Armenian case.
For example forcible transfer of Armenian children to Muslims constitutes
one of elements of the UN definition of genocide. Also young Armenian girls
were forced to marry Muslims. This is well documented.

Answering a question about the Turkish proposal to Armenia to form a joint
commission of Turkish and Armenian historians, professor Zurcher said that a
dialogue is necessary, but that the proposal is not as innocent as it seems,
because of the conditions put forward by Turkey. Turkey wants the historians
to be appointed by the governments and also all political discussion on
historical subjects to be suspended during the work of the commission. It
should not come as a surprise that Armenia cannot accept the proposal under
such conditions.

Akcam elaborated on this issue by putting the rhetoric question how such a
commission could function when there is no normal relation between the two
countries. Even a letter from Ankara first has to go to Tbilisi in Georgia
before reaching Armenia. Akcam agrees therefore with Armenian government
that a commission is necessary to deal with all issues. He would also
suggest the EU to compose a roadmap that includes a step-by-step approach
for solving all problems.

When Turks who brought up a Turkish translation of a book (1923) by the
first Armenian Prime Minister (1918) H. Katchaznouni, in which the author
would have admitted the role of Armenian voluntary troops in the Russian
army, Taner Akcam said, that even if this is corrrect, would it mean that
the genocide had not taken place? And what was the culpability of Armenians
living peacefully far from the Russian borders, who had nothing to do with
the events in Eastern Turkey? Comparing with World War II, would the fact
that one million Germans were killed after the war in several countries mean
that the Holocaust did not occur?

Referring to the alleged 100 thousand Turks killed by Armenians, Akcam
recalled that the figure given by Turkish Military in 1917 in this respect,
is in total approximately 5000 deaths, for all the places involved. But we
regret every victim, he added.

Akcam made a great impression by the way he dealt with sometimes-aggressive
way of acting by Turkish audience. He asked to remain calm and show more
respect towards each other, but also repeating and reassuring that Turks and
Armenians are not the only two peoples in the world that have problems with
each other and that there are ways to solve these problems, like it is done
in South Africa, and that this process needs time and effort.

–Boundary_(ID_jpUjNqBpqsKVR1OCo7BgdA)–

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

December 21, 2006

PRELATE WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY THIS SUNDAY;
VICAR IN CONNECTICUT
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, December 24.
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, will officiate the Divine Liturgy and
deliver the sermon this Sunday at St. Stephen’s Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONTINUES DIALOGUE WITH YOUTH
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, continues
his series of dialogues with the youth. The seventh in the series was issued
this week entitled, "A Few Perspectives for the Renewal of the Armenian
Church."
His Holiness begins his message by referring to his gathering with the
youth which took place in Dearborn, Michigan, December 2 and 3. "The renewal
of the Armenian Church was the core of this gathering," His Holiness writes.
"In my dialogue with the youth I touched on a number of issues and
identified challenges pertaining to this pertinent theme. By carefully
listening to them, I became more aware of their expectations as well as of
their unwavering dedication to our Church and its values and traditions.
The Catholicos’ message focuses on the renewal of the Church. "The
renewal of the Armenian Church is an urgent necessity. In order to carry on
its God-given mission efficiently, our Church is called to keep pace with
the changing conditions of modern societies. Therefore, the question is not
why renewal, but rather how renewal? The renewal of our Church will not be
accomplished simply by shortening the liturgy and introducing certain
adjustments within the church structures. This perception must be changed.
Renewal is not easy; it is a long, critical and all-embracing process. The
Church’s total life in its institutional and spiritual, theological and
liturgical dimensions and manifestations must be included in any serious
renewal process."
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WCC MODERATOR AND GENERAL SECRETARY
VISIT CATHOLICOSATE
The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr. Sam
Kobia, and the newly elected Moderator, Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, traveled to
Lebanon to visit His Holiness Aram I at the Catholicosate in Antelias. The
two senior officials of the WCC came to Antelias to thank Catholicos Aram
for his great contribution to the WCC and his service as Moderator during
the last 15 years. They also met with the Catholicosate’s Ecumenical
Committee.

ST. DAVID THE PROPHET-KING;
HOLY APOSTLE JAMES, BROTHER OF THE LORD
On Saturday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the
Prophet-King and James the brother of the Lord. David was the youngest of
eight brothers and was brought up to be a shepherd where he learned courage,
tenderness and caring. David became the second king of Israel. In Scripture
the name is his alone which shows the unique place he has as an ancestor and
forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more
than 50 references to David, including the title given to Jesus-Son of
David. David was a poet and some of the Psalms are his work.
James, the brother of our Lord, became a leader of the early Christian
Church following the Resurrection. According to tradition he was appointed
the first bishop of Jerusalem by the Lord Himself.

ST. STEPHEN THE PROTO-DEACON AND FIRST MARTYR
On Monday, December 25, we commemorate the life of St. Stephen the
Proto-deacon and First Martyr. After Christ’s Ascension, the apostles went
about spreading the Word of the new faith. It soon became apparent that more
persons more needed to serve the churches. A selection of seven worthy
individuals were made to serve the holy altar, and called deacons
(sarkavag). The most noteworthy of the original seven deacons was Stephen
and the Feast of St. Stephen is an important feast day in the Armenian
Church. It is also a day of honor for all deacons of the church. St. Stephen
was the first martyr for his faith and is therefore often called
"proto-martyr."

HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
On Tuesday, December 26, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Apostles, Peter and Paul. On the day of the Crucifixion, Jesus came to Paul
and asked him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and give them His
message. This, in spite of the fact that at the time of the judgment of
Jesus, Peter denied knowing Him. Peter was known for his oratory skills and
used this talent to spread the Word and Christianity. The Roman Catholic
Church considers Peter as its founder. The Armenian Church has great love
and reverence for the Apostle and the name Peter (Bedros) is a popular
choice for newborns.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 24, is the fifth Sunday of Advent. We continue our
period of quiet introspection in anticipation of the celebration of the
birth of our Savior on January 6. The biblical readings for this Sunday are:
Isaiah 41:4-14; Hebrews 7:11-25; and Luke 19:12-28.

IN THE MEDIA THIS WEEK
Last Sunday’s Book Review section of the New York Times featured a review
of Taner Akcam’s new book, "A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the
Question of Turkish Responsibility." The reviewer, Gary J. Bass, gives the
book a very positive review. The reviewer notes, "He [Akcam] directly
challenges the doubters back home, basing his powerful book on Turkish
sources in the old Ottoman script-including the failed Ottoman war crimes
tribunals held after World War I. Although he bolsters his case with
material from the American, British and German archives, he writes that the
remaining Ottoman records are enough to show that the ruling party’s central
committee ‘did deliberately attempt to destroy the Armenian population.’ "
Taner Akcam’s book is available at the Prelacy bookstore. For information,
[email protected] or 212-689-7810.
An op-ed column in the Boston Globe on December 13, by Charles Fried
entitled "Getting at the Truth" speaks about the recent conference in Iran
on the Holocaust. While condemning the conference, he notes: "But
Ahmadinejad’s tortured logic seems almost broad-minded compared with
Turkey’s stringent criminal prohibition on any suggestion that such a thing
as its genocide of the Armenian people ever happened. Many brave Turkish
writers and journalists have suffered persecution in recent times for
proclaiming what no reasonable person would deny. Yet the Armenian genocide
is as certain a historic fast as Hitler’s European Holocaust, for which
Ataturk’s may well have served as a model and feasibility study. Turkey and
Iran turn truth into either a crime or charade."
And.as we told you several weeks ago, the History channel on cable TV
will be showing a documentary on "The Spear of Christ." It is scheduled to
air in most areas tonight as part of the "Decoding the Past" series. Check
your local listings for the exact time. The filmmakers went to Armenia to
investigate and film the Holy Lance in Etchmiadzin. Four artifacts claim to
be the holy spear, which is believed to have miraculous powers. The sites
are in Austria, Poland, the Vatican, and Armenia. Some viewers who have seen
a preview say that there are some inconsistencies, such as maps that
identify an area as "Turkey" at a period when there was no such country.
Watch it and see what you think.
Finally, a report on the internet states that Sylvester Stallone would
like to end his movie career with Franz Werfel’s "Forty Days of Musa Dagh."
Stallone, whose sixth Rocky movie opened this week to universal critical
acclaim, has reportedly wanted to make this epic movie "detailing the
Turkish genocide of the Armenian community in 1915," for years. "The movie
would be ‘an epic about the complete destruction of a civilization,’
Stallone said. Then he laughed at the ambition. ‘Talk about a political hot
potato. The Turks have been killing that subject for 85 years.’ "

WINTER SOLSTICE
Tomorrow, December 22, is the first day of winter. The wet and mild
weather here on the east coast has kept the ground soft and the grass green.

DECEMBER 24 OR JANUARY 6?
This Monday, December 25, is the day that nearly all of Christendom
celebrates the birth of our Lord. Originally all Christians celebrated the
birth, the baptism, and the visit of the Magi on January 6. Of course, no
one knows the exact birth date of Christ. In the fourth century the Roman
Catholic Church changed the date from January 6 to December 25, to coincide
with a pagan feast dedicated to the Sun. The Council of Chalcedon endorsed
this change; however, the Armenian Church remained faithful to the original
date and continues to celebrate the birth and baptism on January 6. Today
the Armenians are the only Christians who still celebrate Christmas on the
original date of January 6.
In the Holy Land, the Orthodox churches still follow the old calendar (a
difference of twelve days) and, therefore, the Armenians celebrate Christmas
on January 18.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.

January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

January 6-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual Christmas
luncheon hosted by the Ladies’ Guild following church services on Saturday,
January 6. Adults $15; children 12 and under $10. For
reservations/information, 201-943-2950.

January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.

January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.

February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.

February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.

February 17-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.

February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.

March 25-Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, 2 pm.
Featured artists: Aleksandr Nazaryan (viola) and Serge Barseghian (basso).

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NEXT MEETING OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO BE HELD JANUARY

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 20 2006

The next meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs is expected to
take place late January-early February, said Matthew Bryza’s press
secretary Michel Stevens.

He told the APA that the regulation issue of Nagorno Karabakh will
be discussed in the meeting. Besides, the co-chairs will set the date
of the next visit to the region. Michel Stevens said that it has not
decided where the co-chairs would meet.

It should be noted that, the last meeting of the co-chairs took place
on in Madrid December 13.

The co-chairs informed the next chief of OSCE, Spain Foreign Minister
Miguel Angel Moratinos about the details of the negotiations of the
regulation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

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IN GURGEN ARSENIAN’S OPINION, NO SHOCKS AND CONFLICTS ON IDEOLOGICAL GROUND ARE EXPECTED IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia’s political and economic
development proceeds in an exact liberal direction," Gurgen Arsenian,
Chairman of the United Labor Party (ULP) and parliamentary faction
of the same name, declared at the December 20 press conference. He
estimated home political situation in the country as normal. In
his words, the situation in Armenia does not suppose any shocks
and conflicts on the ideological ground. As regards ULP’s activity,
G.Arsenian reported that the party is in natural working process and,
in particular, active party building continues ar present: "We are
content with the results and prospects of party building that is going
on for already three years." ULP Chairman stated that currently the
number of party members without Yerevan territorial branch amounts
to about 17 thousand people. In his words, the number of members of
party’s Yerevan branch is being clarified at present. G.Arsenian said
that at the enlarged party meeting held the day before they made a
decision "about coming out of usual working regime and launching a
preelection campaign." In connection with the Armenian President’s last
statement on supposed staff of the future parliament and in particular,
the fact that ULP was also among the parties named by the President,
G.Arsenian said: "I have not come here for disputing the President’s
opinion, the President is the most informed official of the country."

RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
21/12/2006

According to the Armenian national safety document, the
Armenian-Georgian relations are characterized as strategic, while,
according to the relevant Georgian document, these relations are merely
friendly. The relations with Azerbaijan are strategic for Georgia,
instead. Mr. Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, explained that Georgia
is really a country of strategic importance for Armenia, as the gas
pipeline passes through its territory, as well as the goods transfers.

He added that it is up to Georgia to decide what kind of relations
it will have with Armenia.

As for the cooperation between the European Union and Armenia, Oskanian
said that the relations will develop in two directions, in particular,
he meant multilateral relations with the very EU and the commission,
and, secondly, bilateral relations between Armenia and the EU member
states. He added that they will specify what programs they will carry
out with a concrete state only in January- February. Mr. Oskanian also
informed that in the first half of the next year they will begin the
process of evaluating the NATO IPAP implementation in the past period.