Author: Badalian Vardan

FIRST CONCERT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Oct 04
The first concert of the newly created state chamber orchestra of
Artsakh can be considered the event of the month. The art director and
conductor of the orchestra Gevorg Muradian dedicated the first concert
of the orchestra to the sponsors of the orchestra, the Armenian General
Benevolent Union. The concert took place on October 8, at the big hall
of the Palace of Culture and Youth. At the concert were present the
NKR top officials and the delegation of the AGBU which had arrived in
Artsakh headed by the representative of the organization in Armenia
Ashot Ghazarian. The house was full as the inhabitants of Stepanakert
could not miss such a significant and impressive event.
SUSANNA BALAYAN.
13-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Figaro, France
05 octobre 2004
Turquie : pour un partenariat renforcé;
EUROPE A la veille du rapport de la Commission sur la candidature
d’Ankara
Jean-Dominique GIULIANI
L’Europe ne doit pas claquer la porte à la Turquie, qui souhaite
officiellement en accepter les règles, les usages et donc la
civilisation. Nul ne le conteste. Mais la fragile construction
communautaire ne peut s’élargir sans cesse, surtout hors de ses
frontières géographiques naturelles. Le bon sens populaire
n’acceptera jamais que la Turquie devienne le principal pays de
l’Union européenne disposant, en fonction des règles actuelles, du
plus grand nombre de voix au conseil des ministres et du plus grand
nombre de députés européens. Parce que la Turquie n’est tout
simplement pas le premier pays d’Europe.
Enserrée dans ces deux contraintes contradictoires, l’UE ne peut se
contenter d’une politique au fil de l’eau dont on voit bien
aujourd’hui qu’elle cause nombre de malentendus et qu’elle pourrait,
finalement, nous conduire à une grave crise avec la Turquie. C’est la
raison pour laquelle a été évoquée l’hypothèse de proposer à la
Turquie un « partenariat privilégié », une alliance d’un type
particulier. Obnubilés par la politique intérieure, les dirigeants
turcs ont balayé d’un revers de la main ce qui pourrait pourtant être
la solution la mieux adaptée à leur pays : une véritable union
économique de la Turquie et de l’Union, un pacte de défense mutuelle,
un vrai dialogue politique, répondraient exactement aux besoins de la
situation géopolitique turque.
Depuis 1963, un accord d’association lie ce pays à l’UE, et, depuis
1995, la Turquie est officiellement en « union douanière » avec elle.
A ce titre, quelques maigres institutions ont été créées : Conseil et
Comité d’association, Commission parlementaire mixte, Comité
consultatif et Comité d’union douanière. Les experts turcs peuvent
participer à plus de 23 comités différents et ont choisi d’être
associés à dix programmes communautaires, tel Socrates pour la
jeunesse. C’est tout ! Pour quarante et un ans de relations
d’association, c’est un bien maigre bilan.
En réalité, l’Union douanière ne concerne que des produits
industriels ou transformés. Les contingents et les entraves
techniques aux échanges subsistent. La Turquie est le 7e client de
l’UE et son 13e fournisseur. Nos échanges économiques ne sont pas à
la hauteur des ambitions affichées. Le commerce de la France avec la
Turquie est presque équivalent à celui que nous entretenons avec le
Maroc ou la Tunisie, à peine supérieur à nos échanges avec le Brésil,
la Corée du Sud ou le Canada, inférieur à notre commerce avec
l’Algérie.
La Turquie a surtout besoin d’une aide au développement lui
permettant de valoriser ses atouts, qui sont potentiellement
nombreux. La Commission européenne elle-même a chiffré à 28 milliards
d’euros par an ce que coûterait l’adhésion de la Turquie,
c’est-à-dire près du tiers du budget total de l’Union et de la
totalité des fonds structurels actuels. L’Union européenne a intérêt
au rattrapage de la Turquie. Un accord de préférence économique
générale assorti d’aides et d’un désarmement tarifaire et technique
correspond exactement aux besoins. C’est d’ailleurs ce qui s’est
passé de facto avec le programme Euro-Méditerranée dont la Turquie a
reçu la plus grande part, soit 1,6 milliard d’euros entre 1998 et
2002. Voilà de quoi nourrir le contenu d’un vrai traité spécifique à
la situation turque.
Il en va de même en matière de politique étrangère et surtout de
défense. On sait que la nouvelle Constitution européenne autorise de
nouveaux développements. Son article 1-41 prévoit une clause de
défense mutuelle des pays membres de l’Union. Aujourd’hui, l’armée
turque la première en Europe par les effectifs est le pilier du flanc
Sud de l’Otan. Elle demeure figée sur cette alliance qui lui permet
une politique régionale de puissance totalement indépendante des
intérêts, des pratiques et des missions de l’UE. N’est-il pas temps
de lui proposer de traduire son engagement européen dans un véritable
accord de défense ?
Enfin, la Turquie et l’UE ont besoin de développer un véritable
dialogue politique. Associée comme candidate aux réunions du Conseil
européen, la Turquie n’a pas intégré les organes politiques de
l’Union. Elle n’en fait pas partie, et la vertu pédagogique pour les
peuples d’Europe de cette union supranationale ne s’est pas diffusée
dans la population turque. Nous avons besoin de développer avec elle
un véritable dialogue politique qui devienne une évidence entre nos
peuples.
L’Union doit donc proposer à la Turquie un traité spécifique et
solennel par lequel les deux parties s’allient, définissent leurs
objectifs de politique étrangère, précisent leurs visions des
relations internationales, les moyens qu’elles mettent en commun pour
les atteindre. Et il faut offrir à la société turque un vrai débat
sur les valeurs qui fondent la vision européenne. Car dépasser et
assumer son histoire, avec ses erreurs et ses horreurs, est aussi une
leçon européenne pour le monde. La mémoire fait partie de la
civilisation. L’affaire du génocide arménien montre qu’un tel
dialogue entre l’Europe et la société turque est indispensable et
utile à la cause de l’humanité.
Cette nouvelle alliance aurait plus de poids dans le monde qu’un
simple élargissement de l’UE. Elle serait européenne sans
dévaloriser, et vraisemblablement détruire, les instances politiques
que nous avons patiemment construites ; elle respecterait cette
identité dont les Turcs sont si fiers ; elle leur laisserait cette
souveraineté entière qu’ils auront tant de mal à abandonner.
C’est la raison pour laquelle la sagesse voudrait que les chefs
d’Etat et de gouvernement, qui se réuniront le 17 décembre pour
examiner la candidature turque, décident de demander à la Commission
d’explorer avec la Turquie toutes les possibilités de rapprochement,
de l’adhésion à l’alliance privilégiée, ce partenariat renforcé qui
semble si bien adapté à la situation.
* Président de la Fondation Robert-Schuman

PRESS RELEASE
Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands
April 24 Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Contact: Mrs. I. Drost
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
K.v.K. 27264382
Armenian Federation: EC Recommendation concerning Turkey afraid of litmus
test
The Hague, 7 October 2004 – With concern, the Armenian Federation learned of
the recommendation of the European Commission concerning Turkey, which is
both premature with green light for negotiations and has serious
shortcomings on a number of points and particularly on important matters for
Armenians.
The Armenian Federation cannot share the conclusion of the Commission to
give conditional green light to Turkey for commencing the negotiations when
this is against the background of such a large number of shortcomings in the
areas of among others human rights, rights of minorities, freedom of
religion and freedom of expression. Moreover, a large section of observed
progress has not yet been implemented. In fact, in this respect, almost none
of the Copenhagen criteria have been effectively met, whereas according to
the agreement with Turkey a date for negotiations would only be set if this
would be the case.
In the opinion of the Federation, the European Council can do nothing more
but to postpone the decision in December concerning the question of whether
or not to commence the negotiations.
Specifically concerning the Armenians, the recommendation of the Commission
has shortcomings on a number of points.
– The recommendation bypasses with great deviation the Armenian problems and
thereby misses a unique opportunity to bring the solution of these problems
a step closer. It takes a distance from the problems of the denial of the
Armenian Genocide, which is conducted strongly by the Turkish government
(and on the homepage of each government site) up to the present. The
solution of this question does not lie in the ignorance of the requirements
for a democratic rule of law. In Turkey, however, this issue is a complete
taboo and therefore it is pre-eminently suitable as a “litmus test” to find
out whether Turkey is ready or not for the negotiations. However, Verheugen
has not carried out this litmus test. As such, the impression is given that
this matter is again buried, not only for the Armenians inside and outside
of Turkey, but also for the Turkish reformists who need European support for
opening discussion on this dragging issue.
– Thereby it is striking that the recommendation of the Commission
absolutely does not mention the Armenian element anywhere, nor as a
minority, nor concerning religion, nor as a neighboring country etc. This is
even more remarkable as other questions are mentioned with appropriate
terms. As a result, the Armenian matter is threatened to be swept under the
rug.
– Where a lot of questions are raised clearly for discussion in the
recommendation, like matters concerning torture, the fact that Turkey keeps
the border with Armenia closed and does not wish to maintain diplomatic
relations with Armenia is mentioned nowhere. Leaving the problems with
Armenia undefined leads to a cryptic description of the good relation with
neighboring countries required by Europe. The Commission then states that
“The prospect of accession should lead to improving bilateral relations
between Turkey and its neighbours in line with principles of reconciliation
on which the European Union is founded². The question is whether such a
vague formulation can give sufficient impetus to Turkey to act upon the
necessary conditions concerning the border with Armenia.
– The Commission identifies that the new Penal Code provides only limited
progress as regards, for example, freedom of expression. The Federation
hereby points out, for example, Article 306 of the new Penal Code, which
states that activities against national interests are liable to a fine.
According to information of the Federation, the remarks in this Article
mention as examples such activities as stating that the Armenian genocide
took place and speaking of withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus.
Irregardless, it is obvious that guarantees are necessary for open
discussions of loaded subjects in Turkey as regards the changes that the
Commission supports, for instance concerning the requested reconciliation
with neighboring states. However, these guarantees are entirely lacking. As
such, the denial of the Armenian Genocide remains the cornerstone of Turkish
policy, in which neither changes nor reconciliation are be to expected. With
respect to Cyprus the mentioned remarks are alien to the Turkish promise to
seek for a reunited Cyprus.
With this position, the recommendation does not take into account about a
million Europeans of Armenian descent whose presence in Europe is a direct
consequence of Turkey¹s actions in the past. Moreover, it does not render
justice to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by many European Member
States and the European Parliament.
The attitude of Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide does not fit in the
norms and values community which Europe wants to be and thus it cannot be
left to its own devices without the EU considering to reject it.
The Armenian Federation calls on the European leaders to refuse green light
for the negotiations on December 17 without clear promises to end the denial
of the Armenian genocide by Turkey, so that a first step can be taken to the
highly necessary reconciliation with Armenia and with it to bring an end to
the tensions of the border with Armenia.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/08/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// In observance of the Columbus Day holiday, Asbarez offices will be closed on Monday, October 11; our next issue will be posted on Tuesday, October 12. 1) Publishers Call for an End to Turkish Penal Code Criminalizing 2) ANCA "Hye Voter Turnout" Campaign in Full Swing 3) Armenian Jerusalem Highlighted at UCLA Conference 4) AEF Honors Hacopian and Danielian as Educators of the Year 5) Karabagh Mine Clearing Specialist Visits San Francisco 6) Pyunic 2nd Annual Kef Night 7) Tidbits from The DINER 8) A Fist Full of Dollars or A Few Dollars More? 9) Hovig Remembered 10) THE ARTS 11) LETTERS 1) Publishers Call for an End to Turkish Penal Code Criminalizing Recognition of Armenian Genocide GENEVA (IFEX)--In a letter to the Dutch Presidency of the European Union (EU) and to the President of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi, as well as incoming President José-Manuel Barroso, the International Publishers' Association (IPA) seeks their assistance in calling on the Turkish authorities to abandon the criminalization of the recognition of the Armenian genocide, a measure jeopardizing freedom of expression and freedom to publish. According to Article 306 of the new Turkish Penal Code adopted on September 27, a citizen who demands the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or declares that the Armenian genocide actually took place during the First World War can be pursued by virtue of Article 306. Prison sentences range from "three to ten years." IPA President Ana Maria Cabanellas said: "The many reform packages adopted in Turkey thus far are in part designed to improve Turkey's freedom of expression record by amending various provisions of Turkey's major legislation. IPA welcomes these changes. However, it is fundamental that these legislative measures are implemented effectively. This effort must now include amending Article 306 of the new Penal Code." The IPA was founded in 1896 and represents the publishing industry world-wide through 78 national, regional, and specialized publishers associations in 66 countries. It is a non-governmental organization with consultative relations with the United Nations. Its constituency is of book and journal publishers world-wide, assembled into 78 publishers associations at national, regional, and specialized levels. 2) ANCA "Hye Voter Turnout" Campaign in Full Swing --Record Armenian American Turnout Expected on November 2 WASHINGTON, DC--With only a few weeks left to the November 2 Presidential and Congressional elections, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) chapters have teamed up with activists across the country, as part of the ANCA's "Hye Voter Turnout" campaign, to make their last push to ensure record levels of Armenian American participation in the electoral process. Over the past several months, local ANCA chapters have been working within their communities to raise awareness about federal, state, and local candidates and the issues facing the Armenian American community. A powerful tool in this effort has been the ANCA Candidate Questionnaire, available on the ANCA website, which has provided candidates from across the nation with the opportunity to speak directly to their Armenian American constituents. The ANCA Congressional Candidate Questionnaire includes nine different questions on the topics of the Armenian genocide; US support for Armenia and Karabagh; US-Armenia economic relations; self-determination for Karabagh; conditions on US aid to Azerbaijan; the Turkish blockade of Armenia, and; the US subsidy of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline bypass of Armenia. For an Adobe PDF version of the ANCA Questionnaire, visit: The ANCA has also teamed up with local Armenian Youth Federation chapters in national voter registration efforts, working to increase the Armenian American voice at the ballot box. Activists have set up registration tables at local churches, community centers, and even local business establishments, providing the forms and information needed to register. These efforts have made it easy for young people to register through the ANCA voter registration website and "Rock the Vote," MTV's youth voter education program. At the national level, the ANCA has endorsed Senator John Kerry as clearly the better candidate on issues facing the Armenian American community. At the same time, the ANCA--locally and nationally--continues to highlight the powerful leadership demonstrated by a great many Congressional Republicans on Armenian issues, notably by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Genocide Resolution author George Radanovich (R-CA), and Senators such as Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Ensign (R-NV), George Allen (R-VA), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), and many others. Working with local chapters or Armenians for Kerry, the ANCA has spent the past several months raising awareness of Senator Kerry's 20-year record of supporting Armenian American concerns--on issues ranging from recognition of the Armenian genocide and self-determination for Karabagh, to increased aid, expanded trade, and an end to the blockades of Armenia. The ANCA endorsement of Senator Kerry includes a full review of the Senator's record as well as a listing of the many areas in which President has disappointed the Armenian American community. This text can be found at: ;pressregion=anca The ANCA's "Hye Voter Turnout" four-part strategy in support of the Kerry-Edwards ticket was formally launched on August 28, with the Armenstock 2004/Kef for Kerry event in Massachusetts (). This major day-long music festival featured leading Armenian musicians and speeches by Armenian activists and elected officials, including Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and James McGovern (D-MA), as well as State Representatives Peter Koutoujian and Rachel Kaprielian. Additional get-out-the-Armenian-vote concerts are planned as part of the Kef for Kerry Tour of Battleground States. The tour includes stops in the key swing states of Wisconsin--October 8, Michigan--October 23, Florida--October 24, and Pennsylvania--October 29. For additional information, visit: The second element of the ANCA plan was the "Friends for Kerry Postcard Campaign," which debuted at Armenstock. This campaign circulated tens of thousands of pre-addressed postcards which were sent by Armenians in solidly pro-Kerry states like New York and California to fellow Armenians in twelve swing states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The postcard urges voters to "compare the records of Senator Kerry and President Bush on Armenian issues, to weight the importance of your ballot for the future of US-Armenian relations, and the please consider casting your vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket on November 2nd." The third part of the ANCA plan is a series of "Calling for Kerry" weekends on October 9-10 and October 30-31. Building on the postcard campaign, local activists are teaming up with Armenian Youth Federation and Armenians for Kerry chapters in hosting gatherings and "cell phone parties" to reach out to thousand of Armenian American households in sixteen swing states. In addition to supporting the Kerry-Edwards ticket, activists will highlight the need for strong turnout for friends of Armenia in Congress, both Democratic and Republican. The fourth and final part of the ANCA effort is a grassroots "Canvassing for Kerry" program that will go door-to-door to getting out the vote for John Kerry and other friends of Armenia on Election Day. 3) Armenian Jerusalem Highlighted at UCLA Conference LOS ANGELES--The fifteenth in a series of conferences on Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, sponsored by the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History, the theme of the upcoming conference is "Armenian Jerusalem and Armenians in the Holy Land." Conference organizer Professor Richard Hovannisian, noted: "The Armenian presence in the Holy Land dates back to the early Christian centuries, and it is certainly fitting that scholars from around the world should gather at UCLA to discuss their findings on various aspects of that long and continuous history." His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, is the honorary chairman of the conference, which includes papers on art and architecture, the manuscript collection and library of Saint James Monastery, the history of the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, relations between the Patriarchate and the Cilician Armenian kingdom, Greater Armenia, and other Christian churches. More contemporary issues include the history of the Armenian community of Jerusalem and the Holy Land during and after the Armenian genocide, literary themes, Jerusalem's significance for Armenians worldwide, and new directions for future research. The international conference will be held on the UCLA campus, in the Court of Sciences (CS 50), on Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7. The conference schedule and program are as follows: Saturday, November 6--9:30 AM-1:00 PM UCLA Court of Sciences (CS 50) Armenian Jerusalem and Armenians in the Holy Land--An Introduction Richard G. Hovannisian, University of California, Los Angeles Armenian Monasteries in the Holy Land in the Seventh Century Nina Garsoïan, Columbia University, Emerita The Cathedral of Saint James and Its Collections John Carswell, Oriental Institute, Chicago, and AUB, Emeritus The Manuscript Collection of Saint James Monastery Abraham Terian, St. Nersess Seminary, New York Armenian Patriarchal Succession in Jerusalem Haig A. Krikorian, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Support Organization The Armenian Lords and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, 12th-13th Centuries Claude Mutafian, Université de Paris-Nord Relations of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem with Greater Armenia, 14th-15th Centuries Sergio La Porta, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 2:00 p.m.5:30 p.m. The Patriarchal Reign of Grigor Gandzaketsi Paronter (1613-1645) Roberta R. Ervine, St. Nersess Seminary, New York Armenian-Greek Church Relations in Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the 17th Century (in Armenian, with English summary) Albert Kharatyan, Institute of History, Erevan The Armenian Mosaics of Jerusalem: A Reconsideration Christina Maranci, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mkrtich Khrimian and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (in Armenian, with English summary) Emma Kostandyan, Institute of History, Erevan The Armenian Legion and the End of Ottoman Rule in Palestine Robert O. Krikorian, George Washington University Genocide Survivors in the Holy Land, 1917-1919 Vahram Shemmassian, California State University-Northridge Sunday , November 7--1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. From Armash to Jerusalem: Patriarchs Eghishe Turian and Torkom Kushakian Vartan Matiossian, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, and Hovnanian School, New Jersey The Armenians of Palestine, 1918-1948 Bedross Der Matossian, Jerusalem and Columbia University Armenian Literary Figures in Jerusalem Osheen Keshishian, Glendale College and Armenian Observer The Armenian Ceramics of Jerusalem: Three Generations since 1919 Nurith Kenaan-Kedar, University of Tel-Aviv The Calouste Gulbenkian Library of the Armenian Patriarchate Sylva Natalie Manoogian, University of California, Los Angeles New Directions in the Historiography of Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land George Hintlian, Director, Christian Heritage Research Institute, Jerusalem The Centrality of Jerusalem for Armenians Worldwide Sossie Andezian, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris Photographic Exhibit by Richard and Anne Elizabeth Elbrecht of Davis, California The conference is open to the public at no charge. Parking is available on the UCLA campus in Parking Structure No. 2. Entrance from Hilgard Avenue at Westholme. For further information, see <;" or contact Professor Richard Hovannisian: [email protected] Telephone: 310-825-3375 (a.m. hours) 4) AEF Honors Hacopian and Danielian as Educators of the Year GLENDALE--The Armenian Educational Foundation bestowed Dr. Armine Hacopian and Hasmik Danielian with the Educator of the Year Award for 2004 during an October 3 luncheon at the Sheraton Universal Roof Garden. The Educator of the Year Awards, along with the Lifetime Educator Achievement Awards, recognize outstanding educators who have made exceptional contributions to the Armenian-American community. Dr. Armine Hacopian has been in the field of education for 35 years as a teacher, ESL specialist, counselor, and administrator for Los Angeles, Burbank, and Glendale Unified School Districts. She is a consultant for Guiding Leadership to Success Consulting and many other organizations. Since 2001, she has served as a member of the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, where she has also served as President of the Board. She serves on the Western Prelacy Board of Regents of California Armenian Schools and is also a member of the Armenian Relief Society. Dr. Hacopian was one of the co-founders of Chamlian Elementary School. Hasmik Danielian has been in education since 1979, having worked for the Claremont School District and then Glendale Unified School District. She has been a tutor, teacher, teacher specialist, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal at both middle and high school levels. This past year, Danielian was selected by the Association of California School Administrators to serve on the prestigious Western Association of Schools and Colleges as a commissioner representing school administrators in California. 5) Karabagh Mine Clearing Specialist Visits San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO--Bay Area Armenian-Americans learned about efforts underway in Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) to rid the country of dangerous landmines. Kurt Chesko, the Program Officer for the demining agency HALO, gave a presentation to the Bay Area community recently about the magnitude of landmine problems in Karabagh, and efforts to clear them. The event was hosted by the Bay Area Armenian National Committee at San Francisco's Vaspouragan Hall. HALO has been working in MKR since 1995, when it conducted an 18-month program surveying the region and equipping and training deminers. By 1999, deminers had successfully cleared hundreds of mines. HALO returned to MKR in 2000 with a fresh project to re-equip, provide additional training, and establish a "mine action center," to collect and maintain information about the mines, safe routes, etc. In addition to landmines, unexploded ordnance is also cleared. In Karabagh, where both Azeri and Armenian forces laid minefields, access to prime agricultural land in many areas is denied; many farmers and villagers have been wounded by accidental detonation of the hidden mines. In the first quarter of 2004 alone, mines were responsible for 8 deaths and 10 injuries in Karabagh. Aid organizations in the region have also been forced to restrict their operations due to fears of landmines on or just beside roads and the presence of unexploded ordnance. Chesko, who spent two months in Karabagh this past fall, explained there are several kinds of mines in Karabagh. The most common is the "Osean 72," which explodes when stepped on, throwing shrapnel in all directions. The worst, however, are the extremely destructive anti-tank mines, carrying 10 pounds of explosive, and are not easily detected by mine clearing equipment. HALO employs a team of 186 local Armenian men and women in Karabagh including mine clearers, medics, drivers, and teachers who educate communities on how to protect themselves against the landmines. The deminers are organized into units of 8; many are former soldiers. The deminers typically receive two to four weeks training; medics or those needing training to clear other types of ordinances, like grenades and small rockets, get longer training. "We're not clearing the mines they need for defense," said Chesko. "Those on the front lines are not touched. Those areas are not a priority for us." He also said that neighboring Azerbaijan which has a similar or worse mine problem has refused HALO's offer of demining and has expressed strong opposition to the ongoing demining efforts in Karabagh. Chesko's photo slides reveal the damage caused by exploded mines: a farmers flock of sheep killed, villagers without limbs, damaged farm equipment. The deminers are able to clear approximately 18,000 square meters per day. To date, 11,000 acres in have been cleared in Karabagh. HALO projects an additional four to six years of demining to rid the problem in Karabagh. The HALO Trust (Hazardous Area Life Support Organization) is a not-for-profit NGO with over 5,500 mine clearers in 9 countries in Central and Southeast, Africa, the Caucasus, and Balkans. HALO's 2004 budget for Karabagh is financed by the Dutch government ($574,000), USAID ($450,000) and the Cafesjian Fund ($60,000). Of these funds, HALO allocates 7% to administrative expenses, and 93% goes directly to clearance efforts. Karabagh's deminers are paid $175 per month. Chesko plans to return to Karabagh next year. 6) Pyunic 2nd Annual Kef Night Proceeds to benefit programs for disabled children in Armenia LOS ANGELES--The Los Angeles chapter of Pyunic, the Armenian Association for the Disabled, will hold its 2nd Annual Kef Night on Saturday, October 16, with live music and dancing by the John Bilezikjian Band, along with an extensive silent auction offering Armenian art and décor. "Kef Night is one of our most important fundraising events of the year. The evening's proceeds will provide much needed funds for special programs to aid disabled children in Armenia," says Pyunic president Sarkis Ghazarian. Several Pyunic programs will benefit from Kef Night, including the Summer Camp at Lake Sevan, the Early Intervention Program, and the training of disabled athletes for international competitions. Four Pyunic athletes recently competed alongside 3800 other participants from 136 countries in the 2004 Paralympics Games in Athens, Greece. Representing the Republic of Armenia at the Games were archer Marine Hakobyan, wheelchair marathoner Onik Hovakimyan, powerlifter Gevorg Karagashyan, and swimmer Mariam Sahakyan. Pyunic athletes have participated in the last five Paralympics including Salt Lake City in 2002, Sydney in 2000, as well as in the Los Angeles and New York City Marathons. "With the generous support of the Diaspora, Pyunic has been able to provide training, assistance, and opportunity for disabled Armenian athletes to compete in the international arena," reveals Ghazarian. Founded in 1989 to help the disabled children of the devastating 1988 earthquake in the Republic of Armenia, Pyunic has become the leading non-governmental organization assisting individuals with physical and psychological challenges, as well as promoting welfare and assisting in shaping public awareness for the disabled. Pyunic provides humanitarian aid, social services, career training, and annual summer and winter teaching camps for children with disabilities. Kef Night will begin at 8PM, at the Baghdasarian-Shahinian Banquet Hall located in the Glendale Homenetmen Ararat Chapter at 3347 North San Fernando in Los Angeles. Tickets are $35.00, and include gourmet appetizers and entertainment. For reservation, call Lorig Sivazlian at 818-517-1208. To learn more about Pyunic and its programs, contact Sarkis Ghazarian at 818-785-3468. 7) Tidbits from The DINER By TATUL As I entered Costa's Diner for a quick yet filling breakfast, that was to keep me going until dinnertime, I noticed my old friend Marty sitting in a corner booth. Marty has been a fixture at the Diner as far back as I remember. Over the years, this landmark eatery has changed several owners, somehow keeping its basic Greek menu and character. Marty is usually seen breaking bread with his close friend Arty, but today he was having his Greek coffee alone, looking a bit under the weather, sitting in a corner booth with his usual pile of newspapers scattered on a table large enough to accommodate four. He invited me to share it with him. "Marty, you look a little tired," I said as I squeezed into the seat facing him. Are you OK?" "I am a little. . . bushed," he hesitated, staring at the front page of the newspaper on top of the pile, where large photos of Bush and Kerry took up the top half of the page. Noticing that I too was looking at the contenders' smiling pictures, he kind of smirked and shook his head. "Heckle and Jeckle," I joked, sensing his disapproval and annoyance. "Don't let it bother you, we're all in the same boat." He looked at me for a moment, seeking a measure of seriousness in my demeanor. "Not quite," he said, "Heckle and Jeckle were harmless, bumbling cartoon characters, funny looking birds that made us laugh when we were kids. This," he said poking the pictures with a forefinger the size of a nachwurst, "is more like 'Flim-Flam' riding a white elephant and 'Flip-Flop' trotting after him on a lame donkey--while the boat, as you put it, is leaking!" I chuckled and told him it was very well put, and that I agreed with him wholeheartedly. Seeing the waitress standing over me, I quickly ordered a western omelet and some orange juice; I wanted to hear Marty's obviously strong feelings on the ramifications of the impending ordeal of US presidential elections. Marty took a quick sip of his coffee and pulled out another paper from the pile, and pointed at a news item about the worsening situation in southern Sudan, under Secretary of State Powell's picture; with a bold lettered heading stating: "Powell Calls Massacres In Sudan GENOCIDE." "Well?" I said, after glancing at it, "What's the problem?" "What. . . is the problem. . . ?" he repeated in obvious amazement, "Is that all you have to say?" "Well," I said, "it seems to me that, based on all available information on the tragic events, the Secretary of State has made the right assessment. . . don't you agree?" "That is not the point. . . !" he growled, "whether you or I agree; it may very well be a genocide, but with what moral authority, an administration that consistently denies and obstructs the recognition of the planned murder of one and a half million Armenians as genocide, suddenly, decides to call the Sudanese massacres 'Genocide' while still calling the Armenian genocide 'Massacres.' Can you explain that to me?" We were both silent for a minute, lost in unyielding memories and dark, tormenting thoughts that lead to the perennial frustration and anger of the diasporan Armenian. Marty broke the silence: "You know what?" he said, "As much as I don't trust any politician, I have to say, that when a 'flop' side is leading to disaster, there is nothing wrong in heading to the 'flip' side, even if one has to ride a lame donkey to do it." "Amen!;" I replied, "No more flim-flam!" and I washed down the last bite of the omelet with orange juice, thinking how much better it would taste with some vodka in it. 8) A Fist Full 0f Dollars or A Few Dollars More? By Skeptik Sininkian Since the Vice-Presidential debate earlier this week was about as exciting as watching paint dry, let's talk Turkey instead. I read an article this week about Bob Livingston former member of Congress from Louisiana, now turned professional slime ball and lobbyist for the Republic of Turkey. The article (Livingston Group's Access Opens Doors for Turkey, Influence, September 29, 2004) was an eye opener for me because although I'd known that Livingston was a hired gun for Turkish propagandists, I'd never known the extent of his influence or his greed. The article details how the Livingston Group (Bob's lobbying firm) received 1.4 million dollars between the months of February and July of 2004 from Turkey to lobby on its behalf. It was money well-earned considering that trying to sell the Republic of Turkey based on its merits to anyone with a brain is more difficult than trying to sell an ice maker to an Eskimo. I can't understand how anyone can still trust Turkey or actually believe that they are a reliable ally. Although the article on Livingston was well written and informative, even its author Kate Ackley, referred to Turkey as an important US ally in the Middle East. Just to be sure that the definition of ally hasn't changed since 9/11 (it seems as though everything else has), I looked it up in the dictionary and sure enough, it said "ally: One in helpful association with another." Who knows, maybe the definition of "helpful" has changed or maybe "helpful" in Turkish means "screw your friends over when they really need you." Now be nice! I know what you're thinking about poor old Bob. Bob probably has a family to feed and a house or houses to pay for and so what if he hails from a state that is best known for its swamps and the slimy things that call it home. But I have to admit, it fascinates me how someone with such a prestigious past and proud name (Bob is related to Robert R. Livingstonthe same Congressman who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase for President Thomas Jefferson) can sell themselves out for a few...a few...uh...million dollars? I guess money can buy anything, even a former Congressman. I should put that on my shopping list as soon as I win the next Lottery jackpot"Skeptik, remember to buy lavash, house, new car, some low-fat yogurt, yacht, and former member of Congress to do your bidding." I wonder if Livingston would be so willing to lobby for Turkey's corrupt and inept ways if he were getting paid in Turkish Lira instead? I'll save you the trouble of doing the conversion. 1.4 million Turkish Liras is equal to roughly 93 cents American. This scenario actually reminds me of a story I read about the great British playwright George Bernard Shaw who found himself at a dinner party, seated beside an attractive woman. He turned and asked, "Madame, would you go to bed with me for a thousand pounds?" The woman was obviously embarrassed, and indignantly shook her head. Shaw would not be turned down. "For ten thousand pounds?" he asked. "No. I would not." "Then how about fifty thousand pounds?" he continued. The colossal sum made the woman pause, and after further reflection, she coyly replied: "Perhaps." "And if I were to offer you five pounds?" Shaw asked. "Mr. Shaw!" the woman exclaimed. "What do you take me for!" "We have already established what you are," Shaw calmly replied. "Now we are merely haggling over the price." Now I would like to take this last part of my column to openly beseech Mr. Livingston to forget his wanton ways and walk back into the light. Mr. Livingston, wherever you are, if it makes a difference, I'll offer you double what the Turkish Government is paying you if you lobby for Americans instead and maybe a few Armenian issues while you're at it. By the way, can I write a personal check? I can't guarantee it will clear but it will at least help you carry you head up straight and help you sleep better at night. If you're still not sold on the idea , here's an added incentive. Your horoscope says you have a second chance. That's right! I looked up Bob's birthday and he was born on April 30, which makes him a Taurus. Please refrain from any jokes involving bovine manure. Seriously, behave yourselves. So here's Bob's horoscope for October 6 and October 7: All conditions are right for a reunion, an apology or a request for a second chance. Whether you're issuing or considering, think it over carefully. Then if it feels right, go for it. <; It might be hard to stay off the phone this morning, especially if you're angry but give it a shot. If you can wait until tonight to talk, you'll have some valuable cosmic help to get you over the hump. <; Bob, I'll be waiting for your call. And if all else fails, heck, I'll pay you in Armenian Drams. At least it will be $2799.07 more than you'd be making than if you got paid in Lira. Skeptik Sinikian is not compatible with Taurus but is still willing to give any partnership a try. Having his coffee grinds read, he was told a little bird will bring him news from a far away placehopefully Louisiana or Washington, DC. He can be reached at [email protected] or at <; 9) Hovig Remembered ". . . I know that when I reflect back on this experience I will feel ecstatic about the work we accomplished, the things we saw, and the bonds we forged." --Hovig Saghdejian, Ayroum 2003 By Shant Minas Hovig Saghdejian volunteered on the Land & Culture Organization's July 2003 Campaign in the village of Medz Ayroum, a small village near Armenia's northern border. As 13 volunteers living in one small house for the course of the campaign, we came to know Hovig very well in a very short time. Hovig's sense of hunor, piercing intelligence, sharp wit, positive attitude, warm heart, boundless energy, amazing work ethic, and party-hearty personality were both unique and unmatched. No description of Hovig can begin without due respect for his unmistakable sense of humor. Throughout the four weeks in Armenia, Hovig made people laugh in a village where laughing did not come easily. There were diaspora Armenians from all over the world, as well as many locals, all of whom had very different ideas of what funny was; yet, Hovig made us all laugh all the time--the kind of laugh where you find yourself holding your stomach from the pain of laughing too hard, and laughing just as hard two days later as you recall the same joke or witty observation. Hovig could communicate equally well with locals as with the volunteers, perhaps better than anyone else in the campaign. His Western dialect was a non-issue; Hovig adjusted his accent so that locals and others could clearly understand him. Understanding even the heavily accented dialects of some villagers was a welcome challenge for Hovig. Moreover, typically volunteers whose roots are in Western Armenia tend to have a more difficult time developing an immediate affinity for the land, the locals, and the culture in a far-off village. Not so for Hovig, who felt right at home from the start. He loved the villagers, respected them, honored them in toasts and speeches, and humored them in his prototypical way. They gladly returned the favor to Hovig. He was arguably the most popular, well-liked personality among our villager friends. Hovig was a most positive-looking individual. In the toughest of times, Hovig always maintained a positive, cheery outlook--his light, humorous disposition, and optimism was contagious. We all picked up from Hovig's good spirits. He was a close companion to us all; his warm heart was also contagious. He spread his friendliness and love around the village and made the campaign a happier place. His work ethic was second to none. Even on the hottest, most tiring of days, Hovig would be found taking up the most difficult, taxing of jobs at the worksite. If there was a physical challenge, Hovig would be first in line ready to take it on. He was not one to shy away from a difficult task but rather would volunteer for them. Part of his willingness to accept the tough challenges in that campaign came from his excellent work ethic. He was there to serve his people and gladly accepted the task. It is never a complete description of Hovig if no mention is given to his love of parties and the good life. For almost one month in Armenia, Hovig and the heart of any party were inseparable. Hovig always attracted a crowd to a party with his generous smiles, poetic toasts, patriotic chants, knee-slapping humor, and brilliant personality. He never refused a good drink or sat out a meaningful toast. For Hovig, life was a celebration. Hovig displayed some very remarkable characteristics; he was equally at ease singing a patriotic Armenian fireside chant as he was reciting an original urban rap score. He balanced the well-integrated, liberated American thinker and the tradition-bound Armenian better than anyone else. In conversations with Hovig, one would readily note his anxious willingness to serve Armenia in more significant capacities in the long run. Hovig was destined to serve the Armenian people proudly--both his community in Fresno and in Armenia, as Hovig was a born leader. His departure is a tragic loss borne by the entire Armenian race. Words cannot describe the spirit of Hovig Saghdejian. He was among the greatest, grandest of men, Armenian or not. We will live with our fond memories of our departed friend deeply embedded in us, for Hovig was an unforgettable figure who made a deep and positive impact on his friends and family. We are all better people for having known Hovig Saghdejian. The world became a duller place with his unfortunate passing. Hovo, thanks for the memories G. 10) THE ARTS --HORIZON TV HOSTS GABO EXHIBIT GLENDALE--Horizon Television will be hosting a fundraising art exhibition at the St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, CA featuring the works of Gabo (Gabriel Manoukian) on October 15-17. Gabo, born in Yerevan, graduated from Yerevan's Fine Arts and Drama Institute and is a member of Artist's Unit of Armenia. Art critic Henrik Igitian says, "At first sight his art shocks with its unexpectedness. What is it? Fantastic pictures, heroes from tales? There has not been anybody like him in our national art scene, and never will be. This classifies his style of art as even more difficult. He is very unique." In an interview to Hayatsk Yerevanits in January 2001, Gabo discusses his beginnings in Yerevan during the 1970s, with its painters, artists, poets, musicians. He also discussed the College of Fine Arts after Panos Terlemezian, where he was trained in painting techniques. He says had a good teacher, who saw all bright colors in the young painter and his fairy-tale world, as if Gabriel was playing between real and unreal worlds. In 1978, he held his first private exhibition in Yerevan, and then in 1984, in Moscow. The exhibition, which opened in the Modern Art Museum of Armenia in 1998, greatly surprised people. His works were later displayed in New York, London, Las Vegas, Bulgaria, and Switzerland. Gabriel Manukian uses surrealism and abstraction. He explores places for his characters and conceives characters that become owners of these places. He reforms people, birds, animals, fish, flowers, and everything that exists in nature. "Of course there are cars and people and kids, but he doesn't duplicate nature," Igitian has said. "Manoukian's paintings are likable even to children." Friday, October 15: 6:30-10:00 PM Saturday, October 16: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM Sunday, October 17: 11:00 AM-6:00 PM --HARVEST GALLERY PRESENTS ZAREH GLENDALE-- Harvest Gallery will present a solo exhibit by artist Zareh from October 15 through 24. Known most often by his first name, Zareh Meguerditchian was born in Syria to Armenian parents, who later moved to and raised him in Lebanon. Young Zareh became interested in art at a very early age, drawing elongated animals on the walls in his house; fortunately for his mother, his early artwork was in pencil. Zareh's art represents endless transformation and evolution. "Completion and perfection do not exist. Art is an expression relative to environment and period," says Zareh. Immigrating to the US in 1983, he completed his education at UCLA and Barnsdall Art Center in Los Angeles. Since 1988, he has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout Southern California, and has staged several live, public exhibits. These have included "Turkish Soup Made with Armenian Bones" (1998) and "The Red Trees of the Armenian Genocide" (2001), in commemoration of the Armenian genocide of 1915. The most recent in this traveling series, titled "Marry the Priest," was in response to the sexual abuse of priests of their young parishioners. His shows and exhibits have garnered much media attention and accolade--both print and television. The opening reception will be on Friday, October 15, from 7:00-10:00 PM. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. To learn more about the artist, visit <; For general information about the exhibit, call Harvest Gallery, (818) 546-1000. Harvest Gallery: 938 North Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA --FIRST CAME YEVAYLEN, THEN NAYEV, AND NOW DAGAVEEN Berberian's New DVD Released Vahe Berberian's latest one man show, Dagaveen, the hilariously engaging monologue, has been released on DVD and video. Berberian performed Dagaveen for over four months at Rococo in Pasadena and has taken his show on the road to various cities in the US and abroad to packed audiences. "Dagaveen's structure is very close to my previous monologues Yevaylen and Nayev," explains Berberian. "There are some personal stories, along with meditations on being an Armenian in America and finally, about the importance of laughter." "This the first time we have produced DVDs along with the videos, and they include a 10 minute interview with Berberian, where he candidly speaks about his art. We produced the video for two reasons--for those who missed the performances and for individuals who couldn't get enough," says producer Betty Berberian. Written and performed in Armenian by Vahe Berberian, the one hour and twenty minute long Dagaveen is directed by Ara Madzounian. Berberian has performed Dagaveen in different pockets of Armenian communities in California, Armenia, and the East Cost. Within the next few weeks he is scheduled to have shows in Toronto, New Jersey, Boston, Paris, Montreal, among other cities. The DVDs and videos are available at most Armenian bookstores in California. It can also be purchased via email at :[email protected] or by calling (818)981-6725. 11) LETTERS: Dear Editor: It should surprise few who read our community's newspapers and bulletins that our largest grass roots lobbying organization and several other boutique Armenian-American political groups (AADLC, Armenian-Americans for Kerry, and Armenians for Kerry) have thrown--symbolically and otherwise--their full weight behind the Kerry-Edwards campaign. Now, it seems, that Skeptik Sinikian has thrown his hat into the fray with his liberal-leaning columns. If this is a bolt from the blue to you, just look back to the 1996 presidential campaign and the endorsement of President Clinton over long-time community friend and supporter, Senator Robert Dole. While the Clinton endorsement could be explained away as an exercise in political expediency--a la Clinton was going to win, anyway, so why burn any bridges--it's interesting to note that the principle reason for not lending support to President Bush was ignored when President Clinton received our community's backing. If memory serves, President Clinton never recognized the Armenian genocide as candidate Clinton had. That being said, only the most mendacious in our community can say with a straight face that a President Kerry would buck this trend. So letss take a look at some of the other factors that really matter to the hardworking, industrious members of our community. Over the past three and a half years, after tax incomes have risen 11 percent, home ownership is up, and over 1.5 million jobs have been created since August 2003. Why? Because President Bush forced Congress to lower taxes for all Americans, including Armenian-Americans. All Americans have been given the increased spending power that has enabled our GDP to grow by more than 5 percent over the last three quarters, the fastest rate of growth in nearly two decades. Add to that the fact that productivity grew at the fastest 3-year rate in more than 50 years and one would be hard pressed to take seriously Senator Kerry's doomsday diatribe of "economic decline." Despite Senator Kerry's doomsday proclamations of "Hoovervilles" sprouting up across the US, unemployment has gone down further to 5.4 percent--a full .2 percent lower than it was in 1996. Armenians, for centuries and by various means and circumstances, have found themselves in foreign lands. The one constant is that we have prospered both economically and socially. Trade and commerce have been integral components of Armenian life throughout our history, and in no place have we prospered more than in the United States of America. It's difficult to drive down a street in Watertown or Glendale and not see at least five or six Armenian-American small businesses. Coincidentally, these very small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the true engines of economic growth, creating seven out of every ten new jobs. In our own community, these are the businesses that often times import goods from Armenia to sell to an eager Armenian-American consumer market in states such as California and Massachusetts. Let us not forget that when tax rates were lowered, so was the tax burden on the 90 percent of small businesses organized as Subchapter S Corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships that pay their taxes at the individual income tax rates. Cutting marginal income tax rates allowed small businesses and our community's job creators to invest more of their money in their businesses to expand and create more jobs. When Senator Kerry stands atop his soap box and seethes about "Benedict Arnold corporations," promising to raise taxes on only the rich, he's talking about raising the taxes of virtually all small business owners, many of whom are industrious, hardworking Armenian-Americans. It's time that our grass roots and political organizations enhance their repertoire by addressing some of the bread and butter issues that matter to the community they purport to represent. The same goes for columnists who hide behind obnoxious pseudonyms. Aram Zamgochian Dear Editor: I appreciate your response to Mrs. Savey Tufenkian's letter (October 2, 2004) regarding freedom of choice and freedom of speech. Jokes about notable people, including presidents--Republican or Democrat--appear every day in newspapers, magazines, TV talk shows, or even national news channels. This is the American way of freedom of expression. Like all Americans, we read, perhaps chuckle, and forget about it. However, Mrs. Tufenkian's outrage about "insult to the office of the President" during a time of election campaign raises a deeper concern in me as an Armenian. My concern is that there are Armenians who support and may vote for President Bush based solely on Party affiliation without scrutinizing his performance. As an Armenian, I believe that we have a lot at stake in this election. Besides the fact that Mr. Bush has ruined the economy of this country, has made a mess of the people and countries in the Middle East, and has been responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people, he has done everything possible to go against the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people. To name just a few of his actions, he has tried to decrease the relief moneys allocated to Armenia, he has tried to decrease the military aid funds to Armenia, increased those to Azerbaijan, and, contrary to his pre-election promise in 2000, he has yet to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. I am a registered Republican, but we now have an independent Armenia surrounded by hostile neighbors and her continued existence is of paramount importance. Armenia needs support and financial aid, which this president has not and will not provide. Whatever aid we have received as a nation, we owe to our supporters in Congress, not this president. As ARMENIANS, we have an obligation to think of what benefits our country, irrespective of our Party affiliation. I hope that all true Armenians remember what this president has refused to do for us in the past four years and, in November, cast their vote accordingly. Elise Yacoubian Glendale, CA Dear Editor: While I am usually a big supporter of Asbarez, I am very disappointed in the direction this quality newspaper has decided to take. Objective journalism seems to have taken a back seat to partisan politics. Asbarez has decided to exercise its full first amendment rights of media bias over trying to be a reliable source of updated news to its subscribers. (It looks like a publication of the Democratic National Committee, and not only the editorials) While I am knowledgeable enough in American politics to be able to tell the difference of objective journalism and partisan spin, Asbarez is my main source for news from Armenia and I am not savvy enough to be able to tell the difference for Armenian news. I hope it is not being done to the same extent for Armenian news. I expect a certain amount of bias from any newspaper, especially the official publication of any organization, but I sincerely hope that the partisan spin can be taken back a notch to keep Asbarez as the leader of all types of news for the Armenian-American community. Kris Demirjian Dear Editor: The debate between John Edwards and Dick Cheney presented Americans a stark choice. John Edwards shared an optimistic vision for the next four years: genuine leadership in the war on terror; an economic growth plan that creates jobs and keeps them here at home; affordable health care for every American; a plan to make America stronger at home and respected abroad. But Dick Cheney had nothing to share but attacks and excuses. As the architect of four years of failed Bush administration policies, Cheney had a lot to answer for in this debate. But he failed to explain those failures, instead attacking John Kerry over and over again. I want a plan for the future, not attacks and excuses. The vice presidential debate made it clear that John Kerry and John Edwards are the right choice. Zaven Aloojian All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

A1 Plus | 22:38:28 | 07-10-2004 | Politics | PACE FALL SESSION |
CE DECIDED TO CHANGE THE MEMBERS OF TV AND RADIO NATIONAL COMMITTEE
One of the suggestions discussed concerned change of the members of TV
and Radio National Committee. It was accepted.
“Under the recent amendment to the Law on “Television and Radio” the
members of TV and Radio National Committee must be changed as soon as
possible”.
“A1+” can’t pin great hopes on this change since we realize well that
change of the staff doesn’t provide “A1+” to return to the
broadcasting area because in case of the change President still keeps
nominating the members for the Committee /Viktorya Abrahamyan/.
“In this period one frequency has been freed, without contest, on the
basis of an intergovernmental agreement and within the framework of
the law “On Television and Radio”, a frequency which was given to the
Russian “Kultura” TV Channel for rebroadcasting”, the report of
Jaskernia says.

Azeris protest at Armenian plan to hold youth forum in Karabakh
ANS Radio, Baku
27 Sep 04
Armenia plans to hold another international forum in Nagornyy
Karabakh. The Pan-Armenian Youth International Centre Foundation
non-governmental organization intends to hold a forum on human rights
and democracy on 15-19 November.
The centre reported that it would cover all the costs of the forum,
adding that its members decided to hold their forum in Karabakh because
Nagornyy Karabakh was in a blockade and its youth had difficulties
in establishing relations with the internaitonal community. The forum
will help expand ties between Karabakh’s youth and the outside world.
A group of Azerbaijani residents have already sent an appeal to the
UN regarding this plan.

European Centre for Minority Issues(ECMI)
Schiffbrücke 12, D · 24939 Flensburg, Germany, [email protected]
tel: +49 (0) 4 61 – 1 41 49 – 0, fax: +49 (0) 4 61 – 1 41 49 – 19
23 September 2004
ECMI Working Paper #22
Wheatley, Jonathan. Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the
Javakheti Region of Georgia. September 2004, 41 pp., appendix.
This working paper is a consolidated and condensed analysis of a longer
field report originally carried out as part of ECMI’s action-oriented
project “Defusing interethnic tension and promoting regional integration
– the Javakheti Region of the Republic of Georgia”. Both the original
field report, and this resulting analysis aim to provide an insightful
overview of the current social, economic and political situation in two
rayons (districts) of Georgia; Akhalkalaki rayon and Ninostminda rayon;
which together combine to form a geographical area better known as the
Javakheti Region in southern Georgia. By identifying and providing
information about the current problems impeding the regional integration
of Javakheti, this working paper will act as a guide for defining
priorities and ensuring more informed intervention in the area.

Xinhua, China
Sept 26 2004
Armenian president arrives in Beijing
BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhuanet) — Armenian President Robert
Sedrakovich Kocharyan arrived here Sunday evening, starting his
five-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Presidenet
Hu Jintao.
It’s the first state visit to China by Kocharyan as president.
Kocharyan will hold talks and meet with Chinese top leaders
during his stay in China’s capital. Besides Beijing, he will also
visit China’s financial hub Shanghai. Enditem

Turkish Daily News
Sept 24 2004
Foreign Minister Gul Meets His Armenian Counterpart
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News 24/09/2004 17:36
Talking about the solution process, Oskanyan interpreted the goal of
a recent meeting of foreign ministers in Prague was to arrange talks
between the two countries’ presidents
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan told a news conference in
Yerevan they have never lost hope of normalizing relations with
Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Oskanyan said he would meet Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on
the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly meetings
in New York. “Our expectations from this meeting will be the same
again: to gain a positive development for furthering relations,”
Oskanyan was quoted as saying.
Talking about the solution process, Oskanyan interpreted the goal of
a recent meeting of foreign ministers in Prague was to arrange talks
between the two countries’ presidents. Oskanyan said the Armenian and
Azeri presidents, Robert Kocharyan and Ilkham Aliyev, could not reach
a new understanding in their meeting in Astana on Sept. 15. “Contrary
to expectations, neither president gave their foreign ministries any
orders to begin the second stage that is far closer to a settlement
of the problem,” Oskanyan said.
On the other hand, Armenian President Kocharyan also made a statement
in Yerevan about the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. Kocharyan said the
Armenian directorship in Nagorno Karabakh was legal and all related
parts, including the Armenian directorship, should be able to attend
the negotiations for finding a solution to the conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a 13-year-old dispute, which has dragged on since
a 1994 cease-fire ended fighting that killed more than 30,000 people
and drove a million from their homes. Azerbaijan refuses to negotiate
directly with the Karabakh Armenians and Turkey refuses to establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia. Turkey closed its gate with
Armenia and severed its diplomatic ties a decade ago, in protest of
Armenia’s occupation of the Azeri territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Foreign ministers of Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan held a trilateral
meeting earlier this year to discuss a “phased approach” under which
Armenia would gradually withdraw from the occupied Azeri territories
and Ankara would normalize its ties, in phases, with Yerevan in
return. But no concrete progress has yet been achieved.

The definition
History
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
September 17, 2004
Page 13
Book Review
Peter Balakian
“The Burning Tigris”
The Armenian genocide
474pp. Heinemann. 0 434 00816 8
US: HarperCollins. 0 060 19840 0
By Andrew Mango
It is easy to understand the anger and anguish of Armenian
nationalists. They gaze at their terra irredenta, historic Armenia
which lies almost entirely within the borders of the republic of
Turkey, and which is dotted with the ruins of monuments bearing
witness to the high culture of Armenian kingdoms before the Turkish
conquest from the eleventh century onward. But there are no irredenti
– no unredeemed Armenians – in historic Armenia or elsewhere in Asia
Minor. Nor are there any prospects of a reconquista. The population
of the small landlocked Armenian republic in the southern Caucasus has
fallen from over three million at the time of the dissolution of the
Soviet Union to an estimated two million today. One-fifth of the
territory of the neighbouring republic of Azerbaijan, which the
Armenians have occupied, lies largely empty after the flight of close
on one million of its Azeri inhabitants. There are not enough
Armenians to hold on to recent conquests, let alone to people their
terra irredenta in Turkey. Why have things come to such a sorry pass?
In his campaigning book, Peter Balakian seeks to persuade liberal
Americans in general, and members of the United States Congress in
particular, that the Turks alone are to blame, and that, for reasons
of realpolitik, the Christian West has failed to bring their crimes
home to them. In Balakian’s account, Muslim Turks have always
oppressed Christian Armenians. Oppression turned to unprovoked
massacre in the 1890s in the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, and
peaked in genocide when the Young Turks deported the Armenians from
Asia Minor in 1915 during the First World War. It was, he argues, the
first genocide of the twentieth century and a model for the Jewish
Holocaust. The historical record does not support Balakian’s thesis.
For eight centuries – from 1071 when the Seljuk Turks defeated the
Byzantines at Manzikert, in historic Armenia, to the congress of
Berlin in 1878 when the Armenian Question entered the agenda of
international diplomacy – the Armenians lived as a self-governing
religious community perfectly integrated into the mosaic of Ottoman
society. They provided the Ottoman State with most of its craftsmen –
from humble farriers to imperial architects, from potters to
jewellers, and in modern times, mechanics, train drivers and
dentists. Not only did many, if not most, of them adopt Turkish as
their mother tongue, but in a rare linguistic phenomenon, the grammar
of the Armenian language was affected by Turkish morphology. The
Armenian contribution to Turkish culture was immense: they set up the
first modern Turkish theatre, they published books in Turkish, they
devised Turkish translations for new Western terms and concepts, they
were prominent in Turkish music, both as composers and performers.
Like other non-Muslim communities, the Armenians were among the main
beneficiaries of the nineteenth-century Tanzimat reforms which
proclaimed the equality of the Sultan’s subjects, regardless of
creed. The prosperity which the Tanzimat brought in its train drew the
Armenians from their harsh homeland on the eastern Anatolian plateau
to the great commercial centres of the Empire – to Trabzon, Istanbul,
Izmir and the market towns of Asia Minor, where, together with the
Greeks, they accounted for the bulk of a new middle class. The
Armenians had always been renowned as merchants and bankers; under the
Tanzimat many became senior civil servants. Right up to 1914 there
were Armenian ambassadors and Cabinet ministers serving the Ottoman
State. Balakian does not mention them. Of course, the Armenians had
grievances, particularly in the mountainous areas of eastern Anatolia,
where they were subject to the depredations of Kurdish tribes and of
destitute Circassian refugees, not to mention venal Ottoman
officials. But most Muslims were much worse off.
As a result of Armenian emigration and the immigration of Muslim
refugees fleeing from successive Russian advances in the Caucasus,
Muslims came to outnumber the Armenians by a large margin in historic
Armenia. There were prosperous Armenian communities everywhere, but
they were not in the majority in a single province. This posed the
biggest problem for Armenian nationalists, when they began to agitate
for autonomous government. In his celebrated essay, “Minorities,” Elie
Kedourie described how ideas originating in the West destroyed the
Armenian community in Asia Minor and the Jewish community in Iraq. In
the case of the Armenians, these ideas came through two channels –
from the Russian Empire where Armenian nationalism was born in the
revolutionary ferment opposition to the rule of the Tsars, and from
American missionaries whose schools produced the unintended effect of
alienating the Armenians from their Ottoman environment. Kedourie
relates how Armenian nationalist terrorism was the pretext for the
anti-Armenian pogroms of the 1890s – the first major inter-communal
clash between Muslims and Armenians, who had earlier been known to the
Ottomans as “the faithful nation.” Even if one disregards the
exaggerated figures put out by Armenian nationalists, and reduces the
number of people killed to the more likely figure of 20,000″30,000,
the pogroms were bad enough. But worse was to follow.
It was the decision of the Young Turks to enter the Great War on the
side of Germany against Russia and the other Allies that sealed the
fate of the Armenians. By 1914 there were roughly as many Armenians in
the Russian as in the Ottoman Empire. Torn between two warring sides,
the Armenians were bound to prefer the Christian Russians. One can
argue about the extent of the threat posed by Armenian irregulars to
the Ottoman army, which was trying to contain a Russian advance in
eastern Anatolia in 1915. In the words of the American military
historian Edward Erickson, “It is beyond doubt that the actuality of
Armenian revolts in the key cities astride the major eastern roads and
railroads posed a significant military problem in the real sense.”
But it is hard to argue that the problem justified the decision of
Enver Pasha and the other Young Turk leaders to deport almost the
entire Armenian population of Asia Minor (outside Izmir and, of
course, Istanbul). The Young Turks issued a sheaf of orders and
regulations which, in theory, were meant to ensure the humane
evacuation and transport of deportees. But as Erickson points out,
“Enver Pasha’s plans hinged on non-existent capabilities that
guaranteed inevitable failure.” An earlier military historian, Gwynne
Dyer, wrote: “I believe that historians will come to see [the Young
Turk leaders] not so much as evil men but as desperate, frightened
unsophisticated men struggling to keep their nation afloat in a crisis
far graver than they had anticipated, reacting to events rather than
creating them, and not fully realizing the extent of the horrors they
had set in motion.”
The horrors involved, according to the careful calculations by the
American historical demographer Justin McCarthy (whom Balakian does
not mention), the loss of some 580,000 Armenian lives from all causes
– massacre, starvation and disease. The fact that Muslim losses were
much greater in the same theatre of operations does nothing to detract
from the extent of the Armenian tragedy. Was it a genocide” Bernard
Lewis was sued in a French court for saying sensibly that it all
depends on the definition of genocide. But, whatever the definition,
Balakian’s insistent comparison with the Jewish Holocaust is
misleading. The Turkish Armenians perished in the course of “a
desperate struggle between two nations for the possession of a single
homeland,” in Professor Lewis’s words. For the Turks, Lewis wrote,
“the Armenian movement was the deadliest of all threats;” to yield to
it “would have meant not the truncation, but the dissolution of the
Turkish state.” The Jews posed no such threat to the
Germans. Religious fanaticism was a factor in the Armenian tragedy,
racism was not. There is a much closer parallel with the eviction of
Circassians and other Muslim mountaineers from Russian Caucasus in the
nineteenth century. The figures are of the same order as those
relating to the Armenians: some 1.2 million Muslim Caucasians left
their Russian-conquered homeland; 800,000 of them lived to settle in
Ottoman domains.
“The Burning Tigris” fits in with the campaign waged by Armenian
nationalists to persuade Western parliaments to recognize the Armenian
genocide. It is not a work of historical research, but an advocate’s
impassioned plea, relying at times on discredited evidence, such as
the forged telegrams attributed to the Ottoman interior minister,
Talat Pasha, which were produced at the trial of his assassin in
Berlin. Some of Balakian’s assertions would make any serious Ottoman
historian’s hair stand on end. Like other similar books, it is replete
with selective quotations from contemporary observers. Turkish
historians have drawn from many of the same sources for material to
rebut Armenian accusations. It would be better if, rather than ask
parliaments to pass historical judgments, historians from all sides
came together to research the horrors of the war on the Ottomans’
eastern front. But it is better to lobby parliaments than to
assassinate Turkish diplomats, as happened in a previous campaign by
genocide-avengers, which Peter Balakian, to his credit, regrets. At
present, Armenian nationalists refuse to engage in a dialogue with
Turkish historians unless there is preliminary recognition of their
genocide claim. Refusal is in their eyes tantamount to the crime of
Holocaust denial. But acceptance would be a denial of the freedom of
historical research, not to say of free speech.
Andrew Mango is Research Associate at the School of Oriental and
African Studies, University of London. His books include “Ataturk”
(1999), and “Turkey: A delicately poised ally” (1975).
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress