SERGEY LEBEDEV APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2007 19:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chief of the Russian Intelligence Sergey Lebedev
was appointed chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, chairman of the
CIS summit, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said Friday.
Sergey Lebedev will replace Vladimir Rushaylo, whose office term
expired in April 2007.
ARMENIAN, TURKISH FMS MEET IN NEW YORK
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2007 12:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently in New York for participation in the 62nd
session of the UN General Assembly, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian met yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan,
the RA MFA press office reported.
The parties discussed the Armenia-Turkey relations and regional issues
of mutual interest.
Vartan Oskanian also met Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motaki
to consider the Armenian-Iranian relations, energy and regional issues.
October 3 the Armenian Minister will address the UN General Assembly.
KHOSROV HARUTUNYAN: DASHNAKSUTIUN WILL HAVE A CANDIDATE BUT A PRESIDENT – NO
Panorama.am
13:12 02/10/2007
In the opinion of Khosrov Harutunyan, the leader of Christian
Democratic Union of Armenia, Dashnaksutiun understands very well that
the likelihood of winning the elections for a Dashnak candidate is
small in upcoming presidential elections. "Dashnaksutiun will have
a candidate but a president – no," Harutunyan shared his assurance
also saying, "Armenian Revolutionary Federation will by all means
have a role in the presidential elections, but frankly speaking,
let they forgive me, these presidential games of Dashnaksutiun I
qualify not by their real strive to have a president but by collecting
possible political dividends in order to ensure places in the future
government."
AZG Armenian Daily #177, 29/09/2007
Culture
FREE MASTER CLASSES FOR ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
On September 26, a regular film session was held at Naregatsi Art
Union. The spectators watched "Through Lenses" British film that dwelt
on the best ten photographers of the world. After the film session
Hrayr Baze, Kanadian-Armenian photographer, delivered a lecture on the
peculiarities of the art of photography. Hrayr Baze has been working
as a photographer for over 15 years. He released six albums of his
photographs, including "Karabakh," Western Armenia," "Naked Girls" and
others.
"Karabakh" album was released in 1992. It dwelt on the Artsakh war and
included documentary photos of the Armenian freedom fighter, destroyed
churches and cross stones. Later, he shot the newer history of
liberated Artsakh, Shushi and Stepanakert under reconstruction.
"Hovering Baze" album is a great contribution to the history of the
Armenian people. The album includes photos of the churches and cross
stones that are in the verge of destruction. Hrayr Baze stated that
the art of photography is not at a satisfactory level in Armenia,
there are not many skilled photographers in here. Perhaps, that’s why
Hrayr Baze in collaboration with Naregatsi Art Union is going to
deliver free master classes for the Armenian photographers. "We are
going to talk about the art of photography, discuss photos and
organize expeditions. We have drawback in the Armenian photo art, and
we should get rid of them," he said.
This is a serious attempt to contribute to the development of the art
of photography in Armenia. But Hrayr Baze has other projects,
too. Next year he is going to open a photography school in Artsakh and
pass his knowledge to the younger generation.
By Hasmik Haroutiunian, translated by K.A.
ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Sept 29 2007
ARF representatives met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Alexander
Arzumanyan
29.09.2007 14:28
September 29 at the `Simon Vratsyan’ centre, representative of the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Hrant Margaryan and representative of the
ARF Supreme Body of Armenia Armen Rustamyan received Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and Alexander Arzumanyan. The initiative belonged to
Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Issues related to the domestic situation in the Republic of Armenia
and the forthcoming presidential elections were discussed. The
parties emphasized the importance of ideological-political dispute at
the current stage.
TURKISH EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID MORE FOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE
ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Sept 27 2007
Henceforth, Turks with the knowledge of the Armenian language will
be paid more.
"Haberturk" informs that for the first time Armenian has been
included in the list of languages, for which extra payment is
envisaged. According to the source, civil service tests are conducted
in Turkey once in two years. Those who know Armenian can participate in
the next exam expected in December. If the exam passes successfully,
Armenian will be included in the list of the languages for the
knowledge of which rise in salaries is envisaged.
THE ILLUSION OF TURKISH-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP
Suat Kiniklioglu
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 26 2007
After three days in Washington, one leaves with a distinct sense of
alienation from the capital of the United States.
Every contact we meet cautiously whispers that this time the infamous
Armenian resolution might pass. Interestingly, they also acknowledge
that they know that it is not in the interest of the US to do so.
Regardless of the gloom and doom, some analysts believe that there
is still some common sense among the democrats that recognizes the
potential risks of passing such a resolution at this time. "Why kill
the cash cow now when we are entering an election campaign?" noted
another. Of course it is clear that once the resolution passes there
would be no more need to financially support exorbitant election
campaigns. The present situation is actually ideal as it allows
representatives to garner the benefits of the current environment,
which on the one hand suggests inevitability and on the other leans
on the sober reality of impossibility. Let the Armenians pay for one
more year.
Needless to say, the security threat posed by the Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) and the unwillingness of the US to assert proper influence
over President Massoud Barzani was at the center of our meetings. We
humble Turks have difficulty grasping how the United States Central
Command (CENTCOM) can manage to get away with stalling action on
the PKK when President Bush and Secretary of State Rice repeatedly
ordered the military command to deal with the PKK issue.
Turkey’s friends in Washington were equally aghast when Undersecretary
Burns listed the areas in which the US was expecting Turkey’s help at
an Atlantic Council event. Unfortunately, no one among the audience
could hear what Washington was offering in exchange. Turkish ears
were particularly curious to hear what was going to be said about the
PKK menace in northern Iraq. Far from expecting any new items on the
agenda, Ankara would have been happy to hear what its NATO ally was
going to do about the PKK, which really is a responsibility rather
than a favor. In fact, the overall message of Burns’ speech was that
all was fine on the Turkish-American front. Luckily Burns avoided
reading his wish list to Prime Minister Erdoðan in Ankara.
We Turks need to come to terms with the fact that this administration
is not going to lift a finger on the PKK. The only hope is that the
violence remains at a sustainable level until a new administration
takes its place in the White House. Fixing the Turkish-American
relationship will take years, if it happens at all. The US appears
to have made a very calculated choice when it comes to Turks and
Kurds in Iraq. That choice is clearly in favor of Mr. Barzani and the
Kurds. That a strategic ally is alienated and is being lost in the
process appears to be a secondary concern. It is too early to tell
what this will mean in the mid to long term, but this relationship is
neither strategic nor visionary any more. We need to get used to it
and reorganize ourselves, instead of reminiscing about the old days
or deceiving ourselves about a nonexistent partnership.
A last word is appropriate on the Iraqi Kurds. Iraqi Kurds, especially
those who burn with Barzani’s nationalism, seem to believe in the
illusion that the US will provide them with an eternal security
umbrella. Similar to the Romanians, they are inexperienced in dealing
with our friends in Washington. Regardless of what they base their
calculations on, there is no doubt that Turks, Kurds, Iranians and
Syrians, not to mention the Shiites and Sunnis of Iraq, will be
facing each other when everyone else is gone. Wise leadership would
take this into account.
Ultimately an honest discussion on how to mend the Turkish-American
relationship would require the US to make significant policy changes.
This is not going to happen before 2009, if at all. We should
acknowledge that instead of pretending that all is fine.
–Boundary_(ID_uwD1w8jzsiNbHhHejz6+DA)–
SCITUATE NO-HATE PROGRAM MAY BE DROPPED
By Jennifer Mann
The Patriot Ledger, MA
Sept 26 2007
SCITUATE – A Scituate selectman has called for the town to withdraw
from the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program because
of the group’s position on the Armenian genocide.
If a majority of the selectmen agree, Scituate will become the latest
local community to pull out of the No Place program to rebuke the
ADL, which has not explicitly denounced as genocide the killing of
1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks. That killing began during
World War I.
Last week, Newton became the fourth Massachusetts community to sever
ties with the league.
Scituate Selectman John Danehey raised the issue during the selectmen’s
meeting Tuesday night. Because it was not an agenda item, selectmen
limited the discussion and decided to vote on the matter in two weeks.
Danehey, whose children are part-Armenian and whose wife’s Armenian
grandmother survived the genocide, said sending a message was
important.
Scituate joined the No Place for Hate program within the last two
years. The program asks local communities to take steps against hate
crimes and bias.
"I’m not saying we should not have a No Place for Hate program,
but I think we should continue it in our own way," Danehey said.
Armenian leaders have called on communities to separate themselves
from the ADL until the organization recognizes the mass killings.
Under mounting public pressure in recent weeks, the league’s
national director, Abraham Foxman, called the massacre "tantamount
to genocide." The group stopped short of endorsing a congressional
resolution calling it genocide.
NEW INITIATIVES FOR AN ANCIENT LAND
Hellenic News of America, PA
Sept 26 2007
IOCC’s Partnership with the Armenian Apostolic Church Enhances
Humanitarian Work for Former Soviet Republic
(Yerevan, Armenia) Armenia, an ancient Christian land of the southern
Caucasus and a former Soviet republic, struggles to move forward
from a state-controlled economy and a heavy reliance on subsidies. A
devastating earthquake in 1988 (25,000 killed, 500,000 made homeless)
coupled with regional disputes with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey
drain the central government’s resources to deal with poverty and
unemployment (34% of the population lives below the poverty line).
Recently, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC),
in cooperation with local partners including the Armenian Apostolic
Church and Lutheran World Relief (LWR), sent and distributed $167,000
worth of quilts to hospitals and orphanages throughout the country.
IOCC Regional Director Mark Ohanian, an ethnic Armenian and veteran
of IOCC programs in Southeastern Europe, talks about the challenges
ahead and how IOCC can bring its expertise in working with the church
to help further develop Armenia.
IOCC Dateline: What kinds of social issues is Armenia facing?
Mark Ohanian
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90s’ Armenia
suffered greatly because it was heavily dependent on subsidies from
Moscow and raw materials from other Soviet republics. The country’s
industrial sector is completely outdated and, in some sectors,
irrelevant. Due to political turmoil, Azerbaijan and Turkey have
imposed blockades on Armenia leaving the country with only two
small borders with Georgia and Iran. Consequently, it is extremely
difficult for Armenian businesses to import and export. In addition,
the earthquake of 1988 and the emergency aid that it required drained
the government’s resources. Today, Armenia is still bogged down with
high unemployment, massive rural migration to urban centers and abroad,
and the lack of healthcare benefits for the elderly.
IOCC Dateline: Armenia has a large diaspora of some 8 million of its
people living throughout the world. Is there concern about a "brain
drain" in Armenia?
Mark Ohanian
Armenians are well known for being skilled traders and businessmen.
The country has also produced a great many artists: painters,
photographers, writers, opera singers. This area of the south Caucuses
was known as a cultural center in the Soviet Union. Armenia is a very
singular and self-contained culture and the people pride themselves on
the fact that in the 4th century it was the first country to declare
Christianity as the state religion. But since 1992, an estimated 1
million skilled and unskilled professionals have left to seek better
education and employment opportunities in Russia, Europe and the U.S.
IOCC Dateline: What kind of development work has taken place in
Armenia?
Mark Ohanian
There are a number of U.S. and international organizations here
that are focusing primarily on infrastructure: road rehabilitation,
agriculture, public health clinics and improving hospitals. However,
Armenia continues to need more assistance. Many improvements have
been made in the capital of Yerevan, but less than 10 kilometers
outside the city, you will find no rural or agricultural development.
Most people survive on subsistence farming and lack adequate access
to social, educational, and healthcare services.
IOCC Dateline: What makes Armenia a good fit for an organization
like IOCC?
Mark Ohanian
Being an Orthodox agency has certain credibility. Also, using a
faith-based approach that works closely with the Armenian Apostolic
Church is a good fit. Armenian clergy have neither the resources nor
the expertise to provide social services to their people. We can help
train them because we have done it in other countries like Romania
and Ethiopia where we have trained thousands of Orthodox priests.
Also, there is a problem here with resources not reaching the poor.
And although there is a thriving indigenous NGO sector, it is mostly
concentrated in Yerevan. The civil society and agricultural development
programs that we fine tuned in Bosnia and Serbia are desperately
needed in Armenia.
IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the
Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
(SCOBA), has implemented over $250 million in relief and development
programs in 33 countries around the world.
BAKU AWAITS MOSCOW’S EXPLANATIONS: AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED BY MOVEMENT OF RUSSIAN MILITARY HARDWARE TO ARMENIA
by Sokhbet Mamedov, Viktor Litovkin, Yuri Simonian, translated by Elena Leonova
Agency WPS
September 12, 2007 Wednesday
Russia
What the Papers Say Part B
Russia denies handing over weapons to Armenia; Baku intends to approach
the Russian Defense Ministry for explanations, following reports that
some of the arms and military hardware withdrawn from Russian bases
in Georgia is allegedy being deployed along the Armenian-Azeri border.
Baku intends to approach the Russian Defense Ministry for explanations,
following reports that some of the arms and military hardware
withdrawn from Russian bases in Georgia is allegedy being deployed
along the Armenian-Azeri border and in "the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan." Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev has stated that
such reports have been received and are now being verified. The
Azeri Defense Ministry told us that it intends to send a query to
the Russian Defense Ministry.
At a press conference on September 10, Abiyev told journalists that
there have been reports claiming that as Russian arms are withdrawn
from Georgia, they are being accumulated in Armenia, close to the
Azeri border.
This had been reported in the Azeri media on September 9, with
commentaries. It was noted that some of the self-propelled artillery
withdrawn from Akhalkalaki (Georgia) has been given by the Russian
military to the Armenian army, and is now with a military unit
stationed in the Idzhevan district of Armenia, close to the Azeri
border. This news caused a scandal in Baku. As the Azeri Defense
Ministry’s press service told us, the Russian Defense Ministry will
be requested to provide explanations.
Abiyev said: "Baku is currently verifying reports that Russian
military hardware from bases in Georgia is being transferred to
Armenian territories bordering Azerbaijan." Azeri Defense Ministry
spokesman Eldar Safarov told us that Azerbaijan "is taking alternative
measures in response to Armenia’s moves – reinforcing our Armed Forces,
buying modern weapons and military hardware."
Colonel Herman Zhitenev, acting public relations manager for the
Russian Ground Forces, said: "Azerbaijan has not made any official
complaints to the Russian Defense Ministry concerning the transfer of
property and hardware from a Russian military base in Georgia to the
city of Gyumri in Armenia." Zhitenev said: "The Russian Ground Forces
are withdrawing arms and military hardware from Georgia to a Russian
military base in Armenia, in accordance with the plan for withdrawing
the property of the Russian Military Group in the Trans-Caucasus,
which has been approved by all interested parties."
The command headquarters of the Ground Forced categorically denies
any possibility that weapons from "Georgian bases" might end up in
Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts. A spokesman told us: "We
aren’t handing over anything to Armenia. All arms and military property
withdrawn from the 12th military base at Batumi is either being sent
to Russia or given to Russia’s 102nd military base at Gyumri."
According to our sources, the 102nd base at Gyumri has recently
received six armored vehicles, five artillery pieces, and about 40
items of engineering hardware or vehicles – cars, tractors, graders,
and so on. The 62nd base at Akhalkalaki in Georgia has been shut
down. All property and buildings there have been officially handed
over to Tbilisi. According to the withdrawal plan, the Batumi base
should be shut down in 2008.