Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

PanARMENIAN.Net

Protest action against killings of Armenians in Russia held in Yerevan
31.01.2007 17:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A protest action against killings of Armenians in
Russia was held in front of the Russian Embassy January 31. Some 20
people, the representatives of Sargis Tkhruni youth union, Hnchakyan
social-democratic party and the youth wing of National
Self-Determination union took part in the action, The picket
participants read a statement that says in part, `Several years ago
fascist and chauvinistic organizations activated in Russia and as
result of `Russia for Russians’ slogan several dozens of Armenians
have already fallen victims to skinheads.

Under such circumstances Russia -Armenia’s strategic partner -tries to
represent these murders as an everyday phenomenon avoiding to mention
national discrimination and xenophobia. We call on these `strategic
partners’ to be more consistent and struggle against such phenomena.’
The letter was dropped in the mailbox for the Russia diplomatic
mission in Yerevan, reports IA Regnum.
From: Baghdasarian

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 30 2007

Goran Lenmarker: No changes will be made to my report on NK

[ 30 Jan. 2007 14:18 ]

`I have not made any changes to my report on Nagorno Karabakh
(NK),’OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) chief, OSCE co-rapporteur on
NK Goran Lenmarker told the APA exclusively.

Lenmarker added that after it no changes will be made to the report
either. Saying that the report has already been submitted to OSCE PA,
co-rapporteur noted that to move any amendment to the document is
illegal. When commenting to the issue, Lenmarker’s press secretary
said that if any amendments proposed to the report, then Lenmarker
will have to make a new report.
The member of Azerbaijani Parliament in OSCE PA Eldar Ibrahimov told
the APA that he does not have any information about submission of the
report to OSCE PA.
`But I know exactly that NK issue is not on the agenda of the spring
session of the organization to be held in February,’ Ibrahimov said.
Reminding that Goran Lenmarker will visit Azerbaijan on February 7-8,
the parliamentarian said this issue will be discussed at that time.
Ibrahimov hopes this report will be discussed in spring session of
the organization to be held in Kiev.
`The discussions of energy security of in OSCE region to be held in
the sitting of Economic Committee serves to the interests of
Azerbaijani side,’ he said.
Answering the question if Azerbaijan can suggest substituting Goran
Lenmarker with another co-rapporteur, Ibrahimov said that this issue
is under the competence of OSCE PA.
`At present we are satisfied with Goran Lenmarker’s mission,’ he
said. /APA/
From: Baghdasarian

International Herald Tribune, France
Jan 30 2007

Congressional resolution on Armenian genocide to be introduced Tueday
The Associated Press
Published: January 30, 2007

WASHINGTON: Democratic and Republican lawmakers are introducing a
resolution Tuesday calling for U.S. recognition of the World War
I-era killings of Armenians as genocide. The move will likely anger
Turkey and is expected to be opposed by President George W. Bush.

The lead sponsors in the House of Representatives say they have
commitments from more than 150 other members, who want to add their
names as co-sponsors after the bill is introduced, a strong show of
support in the 435-member body.

The sponsors, who held a new conference Tuesday attended by two
Armenian survivors of the killings, say that the move to Democratic
control in Congress increases chances that the bill will reach the
House floor for a vote. Similar resolutions have been introduced in
the past, but were kept from a full vote by congressional leaders.

"We feel very strongly that this year is the year we’re going to get
this passed," said one of the co-sponsors, Democratic Rep. Frank
Pallone, Jr., a congressman from New Jersey, a state with a large
Armenian American community.

The bill, which will recognize the deaths of the 1.5 million
Armenians almost a century ago is likely to touch raw nerves in
Turkey. The Bush administration has warned that even congressional
debate on the genocide question could damage relations with a key
Muslim ally and NATO-member.

The resolution’s supporters say that the leader of the House, Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, who has expressed support for the
resolution, is likely to come under pressure from the Bush
administration to keep the House from voting on the bill.

"Make no mistake, the speaker will get a call from the president
asking for no vote on the grounds of national security," said
Republican Rep. George Radanovich, a co-sponsor.

Turkey has adamantly denied claims by scholars that its predecessor
state, the Ottoman government, caused the Armenian deaths in a
planned genocide. The Turkish government has said the toll is wildly
inflated and that Armenians were killed or displaced in civil unrest
during the empire’s collapse.

After French lawmakers voted in October to make it a crime to deny
that the killings were a genocide, Turkey said it would suspend
military relations with France. Turkey provides key support to U.S.
military operations. Incirlik Air Force Base, a major base in
southern Turkey, has been used by the U.S. to launch operations into
Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Washington, Armenian-American groups have been pressing for years
for a resolution on the genocide issue. Last year, the House of
Representatives’ International Relations Committee endorsed two
resolutions classifying the killings as genocide. But the House
leadership, controlled by Bush’s Republican Party, prevented a vote
by the full chamber.

With a reference to the two survivors in the room, Rose Baboyan and
Sirarpi Khoyan, 100, supporters said that they feel an urgency to
pass a resolution this year.

"While there are still survivors among us, we have, I think, the
highest ethical obligation to recognize the losses of their
families," said Democrat Adam Schiff, a co-sponsor.
From: Baghdasarian

Dünya online, Turkey
Jan 29 2007

Erdogan: Article 301 can be changed
29/01/2007 15:29:09

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to Ethiopia to
attend an African Union Summit set to discuss climate change. Erdogan
is expected to brief the gathering on Turkey’s efforts to fight
global warming.
Speaking to reporters before his departure, Erdogan responded to a
recent declaration by Bogazici University professors calling for the
abolition of Article 301 after the murder earlier this month of Hrant
Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian descent, saying that the
government wasn’t thinking of doing away with the article altogether.
"Many countries have similar laws," said Erdogan. "You need to look
at all sections of the law carefully and not ignore them."

Erdogan further stressed that he had urged the academics to rethink
their proposal and that they would understand that it is not
coherent. The premier added, however, that the government was open to
suggestions for changes to the article and that he had discussed the
issue with non-governmental organizations. "But the NGOs couldn’t
reach agreement among themselves," added Erdogan.
From: Baghdasarian

Le Figaro, France
24 janvier 2007

Hrant Dink a réuni Turcs et Arméniens à ses funérailles

Istanbul LAURE MARCHAND

LE DERNIER hommage rendu à Hrant Dink a été à l’image du choc que
l’assassinat du journaliste arménien, vendredi dernier, a provoqué en
Turquie et au-delà de ses frontières. Des dizaines de milliers de
personnes, formant un gigantesque cortège endeuillé, ont traversé
Istanbul, hier, pour accompagner la dépouille du journaliste jusqu’au
cimetière arménien, où il a été inhumé dans l’après-midi. La foule,
photo du défunt sur le coeur, a envahi les ruelles aux abords de
l’église de la Vierge-Marie du quartier de Kumkapi, où s’est déroulée
la cérémonie religieuse. La présence de représentants de la
République d’Arménie et de la diaspora arménienne, aux côtés de
ministres turcs, aux funérailles, constitue peut-être le signal d’un
frémissement dans le dialogue turco-arménien, déclenché par l’immense
indignation qu’a soulevée la mort du rédacteur en chef du journal
Agos . Le rassemblement avait commencé dans la matinée, devant les
locaux du journal, là où Hrant Dink a été abattu de trois balles dans
la tête. Une musique traditionnelle arménienne enveloppait la rue de
ses mélodies déchirantes, du jamais-vu en Turquie. Dans cette
atmosphère chargée d’émotion, la veuve du journaliste a rendu hommage
à son mari, en reprenant son combat pour la démocratie: «Que
l’assassin ait 17 ou 27 ans, c’est un bébé. Si on n’arrive pas à
comprendre pourquoi ce bébé s’est transformé en meurtrier, on
n’arrivera à rien.» Poursuivant, la voix à la fois brisée par la
douleur et tremblante de détermination: «Ça ne sert à rien de dire
que le sang turc est meilleur que le sang arménien. Que cela serve de
leçon!» Dans la foule, de nombreux Turcs, d’origine arménienne ou
non, brandissaient des petites pancartes, où était écrit en turc et
en arménien «Nous sommes tous des Arméniens!» Pour Raffi Hermonn,
exilé en France pendant vingt-cinqans et désormais vice-président de
l’Association des droits de l’homme en Turquie, il s’agit d’un
«message très fort envoyé par la société car le terme»arménien* est
une insulte dans ce pays» . Cette mobilisation de masse des
défenseurs de la démocratie «montre qu’il faut continuer à tout prix
à se battre pour le dialogue turco-arménien», renchérit Jean-Claude
Kebadjian, une des voix discordantes de la communauté arménienne
française, qui défend inlassablement un rapprochement entre les deux
peuples. Épurer les manuels scolaires Bien que l’Arménie et la
Turquie n’entretiennent pas de relations diplomatiques, autour du
cercueil de Hrant Dink étaient réunis le vice-ministre arménien des
Affaires étrangères, Arman Kirakossian, et deux membres du
gouvernement turc, le vice-premier ministre et le ministre de
l’Intérieur. Ankara avait invité Erevan à se joindre aux obsèques. Le
primat du diocèse oriental des États-Unis avait également fait le
déplacement, ainsi qu’une délégation du Conseil de coordination des
organisations arméniennes de France (CCAF) qui ne s’était jamais
rendue en Turquie et s’opposait, d’ailleurs, aux engagements de Hrant
Dink. «Sa mort pourrait amorcer un dialogue entre Ankara et la
diaspora», estime René Dzagoyan, membre du conseil du CCAF, qui
milite pour l’instauration de la loi visant à pénaliser la négation
du génocide en France. «Des députés turcs nous ont rencontrés et ont
manifesté leur souhait d’enclencher un processus dans ce sens. De
notre côté, il ne s’agit évidemment pas de négocier le génocide, mais
d’expliquer notre position.» Toute la question est de savoir quelle
suite donnera le gouvernement à son geste. «Il se trouve dans une
situation délicate, car il doit gérer son image sur la scène
internationale en tenant compte de ses calculs sur le plan intérieur»
, analyse le pasteur René Léonian, représentant du Conseil mondial
évangélique arménien et ami intime de la famille de Dink. «L’avenir
nous dira s’il s’agit de poudre aux yeux pour séduire la diaspora.»
La presse turque a relevé l’absence du premier ministre, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, à l’office religieux, tout comme celle des corps constitués
de l’État. Magistrats et militaires avaient défilé en masse lors de
l’assassinat du juge du Conseil d’État en mai dernier pour dénoncer
une attaque visant la laïcité, selon eux. Au cours de son homélie, le
patriarche arménien Mesrob II a exhorté les autorités turques «à
éradiquer l’animosité envers les Arméniens de Turquie», notamment en
épurant les manuels scolaires truffés de références péjoratives, et a
espéré qu’un jour ces «citoyens turcs» ne soient plus considérés ni
comme des «étrangers» , ni comme des «ennemis potentiels».
From: Baghdasarian

Sun Child First Regional Environmental Festival to be held in Dilijan

ArmRadio.am
23.01.2007 17:40

>>From April 1 to 15 in Dilijan, Armenia, the First Regional Environmental
Festival Sun Child will take place. The festival is organized by the Foundation
for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of
Armenia (FPWC) and Sun Child NGO.

The aim of the festival is to raise public awareness of the environmental
problems existing in the region and to establish a neutral field for
cooperation, thus promoting the search of new, efficient solutions.

In the framework of the festival film screenings in competitive and nonâ~@~S
competitive sections, photo exhibitions, open-air concerts as well as a number of
environmental activities -tours, tree planting, scavenging in different
regions of Armenia are planned. Great importance is attached to the environmental
workshops since they are an excellent opportunity for the exchange of the
international experience. Experts, ecologists and ecojournalists from the
region and abroad will take part in them. In the framework of the workshops such
acute issues as advocacy coalition building, networking and eco-tourism will be
discussed and an exhibition of advocacy campaigns and tools will be held.

The festival puts a special emphasis on the youth and children participation
as the new generation of the region constitutes a strong whole able to
overstep boundaries.

To bring children closer to nature, to make them appreciate the treasures of
their motherland and finally to arise interest towards environmental issues
FPWC already organizes environmental film screenings and courses in regional
schools. Children are given opportunity to feature their own environmental
films, the best of which will later compete in the Children Film Program of the
festival.

–Boundary_(ID_y/CNZWORs1rSc3YzEit9nA) —
From: Baghdasarian

International Federation of Journalists press release, Brussels,
19 Jan 2007

WATCHDOG IFJ CONDEMNS "INTOLERANT CULTURE" AFTER JOURNALIST’S KILLING
IN TURKEY

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the
killing of Hrant Dink, an outspoken Turkish-Armenian journalist, who
they say has fallen victim to a "culture of intolerance" in Turkey
which made him the target of nationalist extremists.

Dink, the editor of the newspaper Agos, was shot outside his offices
in Istanbul. Just over a year ago he was given a six-month suspended
sentence in October 2005 after writing about the Armenian "genocide"
of 1915.

The Turkish Journalists’ Union also condemned the murder, saying:
"This attack has targeted directly the freedom of press and
expression. It is a profoundly provocative political murder. It will
not be enough to find only the killers. It is an obligation of Turkey
to bring also those who planned and agitated this attack to justice."

The IFJ is supporting its affiliate’s call for action.

"This man has been the target of abuse and threats ever since he
dared to express an opinion that challenges an established
orthodoxy," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "It is
scandalous that he appears to have become the victim of a culture of
intolerance that remains deeply rooted in parts of society."

Dink, 53, was a prominent Armenian voice and had received threats
from nationalists who viewed him as a traitor, according to local
news reports. He had expressed concern over what he described as the
hatred some Turks had for him.

He wrote about what Armenians say was the massacre by Ottoman Turks
of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915. However, Turkey
strongly denies any genocide, and says the deaths were a consequence
of World War One.

"This is a great tragedy for journalism. The loss of a committed
journalist touches us all," said White. "But the impact of this
killing goes beyond deep personal loss and strikes at the heart of
free expression rights and the quality of democratic exchange in
Turkey."

The IFJ’s Turkish affiliate, Turkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi (TGS),
issued its statement on behalf of the Turkish media community. The
statement from the Turkish Journalist Union is available at
;L anguage=EN:

For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
From: Baghdasarian

Focus News, Bulgaria
Jan 21 2007

Arrested Ogun Samast Confesses He Had Killed Journalist Hrant Dink

21 January 2007 | 08:23 | FOCUS News Agency

Istanbul. Ogun Samast (17) who was arrested by the Tukish police in
suspicion of the journalist from Armenian origin Hrant Dink had
confessed the murder, RIA Novosti reports.
`Samast confessed that he had killed Dink’, the Vali of Istanbul
Muammer Güler. The man was arrested in the town of Samsun and the
pistol by which he had shot the victim was discovered in him. There
are five other persons arrested and will be interrogated.
From: Baghdasarian

RUBEN SAFRASTIAN: HRANT DINK WAS A ROMANTIC, HE BELIEVED THAT TURKEY
CAN BE CHANGED FROM INSIDE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. There are many
Turks who, while living abroad, criticize the policy conducted by
Turkey, but there are few who, living in Turkey, criticize this
country’s policy, especially in the Armenian issue. Hrant Dink
received many invitations to move to European countries but he
preferred to stay in Turkey. Ruben Safrastian, Director of the RA NAS
Institute of Oriental Studies, said this at the January 20 press
conference.

According to R. Safrastian, Dink was a very courageous man, for years
he was persecuted by the Turkish authorities and was put in prison for
his liberal views. Dink was aware of the threat to his life but, in
his own words, he wasn’t afraid of it. Safrastian noted that Dink was
a romantic beacuse he believed that Turkey can be changed from inside.

In the Turkologist’s opinion, the absolute majority of the Turkish
society is quite far from such values as defence of human rights and
rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

Decision on Killing Hrant Dink was Made by `The State Within The State’
20.01.2007 16:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Organization `Grey Wolves’ can be involved in Hrant
Dink’s assassination, told specialist in Turkic philology Ruben
Safrastyan, director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of Armenian
NAS (National Academy of Sciences) the PanARMRNIAN.Net journalist. In
his words, `Grey Wolves’ can be only performers of the crime, and the
customers should be looked for in higher echelons of power, which
tries to keep the model founded by Kemal Atatürk. The `state within
the state’ consists of leaders of political parties, representatives
of big business, army, and intellectuals. This is a portion of Turkish
society, which by all means tries to enclose the country from
Islamists at the head of Prime Minister Erdoghan,’ Safrastyan
stressed.

Alongside the specialist in Turkic philology did not exclude a
possible attack on Nobel Prize winner and writer Orhan Pamuk, who has
also spoken about the Armenian Genocide. It is worth mentioning that
the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist’s all efforts to contact Pamuk were
useless. In Safrastyan’s opinion, most probably Pamuk has already
departed from Turkey.
From: Baghdasarian