Author: Chatinian Lara

US SENATE COMMITTEE DELAYS VOTE ON DINK RESOLUTION
EmÝne Kart Ankara

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 7 2007

A decision by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday
to delay a planned vote on a resolution condemning the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and calling on Turkey to abolish
a penal code article widely considered to be a barrier standing in the
way of freedom of expression has led to disappointment in the Armenian
diaspora while pleasing Ankara in that US lawmakers apparently have
taken Turkey’s concerns into consideration.

"We are troubled that Senator Lugar — apparently acting at the
request of the administration — has delayed the US Senate’s tribute
to the life and memory of Hrant Dink," said Aram Hamparian, executive
director of the influential US-based Armenian lobbying organization
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), was quoted as
saying in reference to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’
ranking member, Richard G. Lugar. "We look forward to the panel, at
the next opportunity, rejecting any efforts to block or water down
this measure and passing it in the form it was introduced."

On Tuesday, when the committee gathered at a "business meeting," Lugar
objected to the resolution text and wanted the "Armenian genocide"
expression to be taken out of the resolution.

The non-binding resolution, drafted by Democrat Senator Joe Biden,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, condemns the murder
of Dink and calls for abolishment of the infamous Article 301 under
which Dink was tried and handed a six-month suspended sentence for
"insulting Turkishness" and also calls on Turkey to establish full
political, diplomatic and economic relations with neighboring Armenia.

"Apparently the reason for the delay is a disagreement among US
lawmakers, as some of them expressed their uneasiness over certain
expressions used in the resolution," diplomatic sources on Wednesday
told Today’s Zaman, avoiding comment on whether the US lawmakers were
upset by the "genocide" expression.

"This is a non-binding resolution, and what matters for us is the US
administration’s stance in regard to Armenian allegations. So far,
the US administration hasn’t bowed to Armenian pressure to officially
recognize the allegations," the same diplomatic sources said.

Senator Lugar and Senator Biden are expected to draw up a new joint
text for the same resolution before the committee gathers for the next
meeting, the Anatolia news agency reported from Washington yesterday.

Meanwhile, officials at the Turkish Embassy in Washington have been
constantly informing US lawmakers over "inappropriate expressions"
and facts in the resolution.

–Boundary_(ID_96dTNv8Ekrq3zA/UQBjWpg )–

DOGU PERINCEK NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK LONG

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2007

LAUSANNE, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first sitting
of trial against head of Turkish Workers Party Dogu Perincek that
started on March 6 in Lausanne passed in strained atmosphere. An
accusation of denying the Armenian Genocide has been brought to
Perincek. According to the Marmara newspaper of Istanbul, Perincek
who had taken with him documents weighing 90 kg for introducing them
to the court had no opportunity to speak about them long.

Moreover, the judge warned the latter that if he continues giving a
lecture, he will deprive him of the right of speaking at all. After
the court sitting Perincek said that they asked him so many questions
about Talaat Pasha that ha had to ask the judge whether they try him
or Talaat Pasha there. 160 members of Talaat Pasha organization who
had left for Lausanne to follow the process of trial and to support
Perincek and a number of journalists were not permitted to enter
the court hall. Former President of North Cyprus Rauf Denktash and
protector of official Turkish viewpoint, historian Justin McCarthy
were also deprived of such an opportunity. Therefore, the Turks having
left for Lausanne limited themselves to holding a rally in the square
dedicated to Perincek’s defence. The trial is to finish until March 9.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE NEW VOLUME OF THE "HASK" ARMENOLOGY YEARBOOK IS PRESENTED TO
ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS

ANTELIAS, Lebanon – The latest volume of the "Hask" Armenology Yearbook,
entitled "New Period. Year X" has been published by the Catholicosate of
Cilicia’s publishing house in Antelias. The volume is dedicated to the
1000th anniversary of the writing of "Madian Voghperkoutian" by St. Gregory
of Narek. Published by the joint efforts of the Cilician Holy See and the
Armenian Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the yearbook has
been an enriching contribution in the field of Armenology particularly in
the last decade.

The volume brings together articles by Armenian and foreign armenologists,
whose contributions provide it with a unique value and importance. The
preface to the volume is written by His Holiness Aram I, who accurately
portrays the current situation of Armenology in our reality.

"Armenian chairs established in Western universities are partial and
inconclusive initiatives. However, they have funds available to them.
Armenology is striving to keep its quality in the Yerevan State University.
But even there, the decrease in the number of students, the decline in the
scientific and philosophical quality of the research projects and
publications, as well as their diminishing numbers cause concern. In the
field of Armenology we expect more from Yerevan State University, something
which can be achieved through financial contributions, the creation of an
interests towards Armenology in Armenian students, as well as a reevaluation
of the methods and priorities in the teaching of Armenology," writes the
Pontiff. His Holiness also praises the role of Dr. Zaven Yegavian, Director
of the Armenian Affairs Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

The volume combines 28 topics in 451 pages. The editorial work of the volume
was carried out by Rev. Bartev Gulumian, with the final editing of Mr.
Jirayr Tanyelian. The volume was presented to the attendants of the
intellectuals’ meeting held in Antelias on March 2.

##
View the cover here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the books
published in the Printing House of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN MET WITH GEGHARKUNIK MARZPET

armradio.am
05.03.2007 17:55

During today’s working meeting RA President Robert Kocharyan and
Gegharkunik Marzpet ArsenGrigoryan discussed the socio-economic
situation in the region.

Speaking about the works carried out in 2006 and the deeds for 2007,
the interlocutors referred to the school-building, water supply and
other programs financed by the state budget, the Linsi and other
foundations. The Marzpet presented the process of accomplishment of
the President’s instructions about the community budget executions.

Reference was made also to the problems Sevan National Park faces. The
President instructed to investigate the information about illegal
constructions and ring these to the legal field through court.

BAND’S ‘SCREAMS’ HELP RAISE AWARENESS
By Eileen Duffy
Tribune Staff Writer

South Bend Tribune, IN
March 1 2007

Carla Garapedian was raised on Elton John — not Black Sabbath.

So the prize-winning filmmaker and former BBC News anchor never
imagined she’d attend a nu metal band System of a Down’s concert,
let alone collaborate with the group on a documentary.

Like Garapedian, System of a Down’s members are all Armenian Americans
whose grandparents survived the Armenian genocide early in the
20th century. Also like Garapedian, System of a Down has enjoyed
international commercial success while confronting human rights
violations — specifically, genocide.

But when Garapedian found herself outside a benefit concert the band
headlined in April 2004, she knew none of this. She was simply sitting
at a booth, handing out pamphlets on the Armenian genocide to support
a group called the Armenian Film Foundation. But she soon found the
band’s fans consistently waved her information away, telling her that
System of a Down’s music had already taught them about the atrocity —
and other genocides as well.

"Here was a level of political awareness that I hadn’t seen in this
generation of young people before. I had an impression that people in
the 17-to-22 age frame were not particularly interested in genocide
and certainly not interested in talking about history," she says.

"But they were. This group was."

A few months later, Garapedian was sitting down with System of a
Down’s lead singer, Serj Tankian, to discuss a joint project.

The two chose to create a documentary focusing not just on the Armenian
genocide, but on the history of genocide denial.

Such was the birth of "Screamers," a documentary that uses System of a
Down’s concert tour to tell the story of genocide throughout the last
century. Told without narration, the film focuses partly on Tankian
and his grandfather — just a boy when he experienced deportation,
death marches and the loss of his brothers.

There is a delicate reverence owed to victims of genocide, as
Garapedian can testify from her experience in journalism. While
sitting in a van in Chechnya with another reporter and a photographer,
Garapedian was approached by a local woman, who invited the journalists
to see her sisters.

The woman led them to where the burnt torsos of her sisters were lying,
Garapedian remembers. One was still wearing her eyeglasses.

"As we stood there, my colleague, who is Catholic, crossed himself
immediately," she says. "When you’re (facing) a human being who is
dead, you have to give a quiet moment to that before you bear witness,
before you show the world what’s going on."

But the volume must soon be raised if genocide is to be stopped,
Garapedian adds.

"When Rwanda was going on, we weren’t walking around like, ‘OH MY GOD,
there’s a holocaust going on. We’ve got to stop it!’" she says.

"Through their fan base and their own personal experiences, (System
of a Down) tries to connect us to that outrage I think we should
be feeling."

That’s why Garapedian thinks System of a Down’s heavy, angry music
provides a good backdrop for a film about genocide. She admits that
at first, the music sounded like "screaming" to her — until she
started to pick up on the Armenian and other influences in the sound.

"I started to get an ear for it. I started to read the lyrics and
found even the screaming made sense," she recalls. "I started to
listen to it as a whole, and I got it."

A 60-year-old woman recently wrote to Garapedian after seeing the
film in Boston with her friends, Garapedian says.

" ‘We never thought we’d connect to this music in any way,’ she wrote,"
Garapedian says. " ‘But there’s something about the way this music
is woven into this film that actually makes sense.’

"Some critics have not approved of my choice to cut between rock
performances and genocide victims. But that’s an artistic choice
I’ve made," Garapedian continues. "To have this music about anger
and rage and passion — I see it as being very appropriate to the
subject matter."

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS MAY MEET IN GENEVA

armradio.am
28.02.2007 15:45

The meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
may take place in Geneva.

According to the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri
Merzlyakov, the place of holding the recurrent stage of negotiations
between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vartan Oskanian
and Elmar Mammadyarov has not been determined yet. "Geneva is among
the alternatives discussed, but none of the parties has given any
decisive answer," Merzlyakov informs.

According to the source, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
told journalists in Kazakhstan that the meeting will take place in
Geneva. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries are expected to
participate in the 4th session of the UN Human Rights Council to be
held March 13-April 5 in Geneva.

UEFA TO DECIDE PLACE OF MEETING OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 27 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Meetings of the national teams of
Armenia and Azerbaijan are envisaged by the program of the Europe
football championship on September 8 and 12. The competition place
is not decided yet. The Azerbaijani side proposes to hold meetings
in Ukraine, and the Armenian side proposes to hold in Yerevan and
Baku. The UEFA Executive Committee will make the final decision.

TALK ABOUT MOUNTING U.S. ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE SYSTEM IN POLAND PREMATURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2007 15:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We are not speaking of mounting an anti-aircraft
system in Poland. We just have an offer from the United States,"
Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga told a news conference in
Yerevan. In her words, the issue will be decided by the government
but it’s premature to speak of it. "Security is a priority issue for
Poland. U.S. plans have been arousing negative reaction in Russia for
a long time. However the policy of declarative statement differs from
the policy of actions," she noted. The Polish FM underscored that all
positions that will maintain the balance of forces in the region and
won’t undermine European security should be taken into account during
the talks.

ZNet, MA
Feb 23 2007

No shame in slaughter

by Stefan Christoff
February 22, 2007
Montreal Mirror

The histories of Turkey and Armenia are deeply intertwined. Dating
back to the Ottoman Empire, the Armenian Orthodox Christians, a
prominent minority community, specialized in commerce, often working
as intermediaries for merchants from Europe and the eastern empire.
But in the early 20th century, as momentum and support for Armenian
independence expanded, Armenians faced mounting repression from
Ottoman authorities. During the explosive events of World War I,
Ottoman repression resulted in genocide, with an estimated 1.5
million Armenians massacred and expelled from the crumbling empire.

The Armenian genocide persists as a matter of international
controversy, one that Turkish activist and scholar Taner Akçam
continues to confront. As one of the first prominent Turkish
historians to call the slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
between 1915 and 1917 a genocide, Akçam’s work has garnered
international attention.

His celebrated new book, A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and
the Question of Turkish Responsibility, incorporates archival
material from British, German, U.S. and Ottoman records. Akçam will
be delivering two lectures in Montreal this weekend.

Official silence

"An official recognition of the Armenian genocide must take place in
Turkey," Akçam tells the Mirror. "The Armenian diaspora seeks a clear
recognition of this historical injustice, which present-day Turkish
pro-democracy advocates must support."

"Despite the international attention toward my book, there has not
been one single book review published in Turkey," he says. "People in
Turkey can’t touch the book publicly due to pressure from government
authorities."

Akçam is not new to controversy. The historian and professor at the
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of
Minnesota fled Turkey as a political refugee in the 1970s. After
receiving a 10-year prison term for producing a student journal that
focused on Turkey’s treatment of the Kurdish minority, Akçam was
declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in 1976
and eventually granted asylum in Germany.

"I was part of the 1968 generation, a common student movement in all
of Europe and throughout the world," says Akçam. "In Turkey, this
student movement had multiple targets, including the U.S. war in
Vietnam and democratization in Turkey, an important U.S. ally until
today."

In 2004, the Canadian federal Liberal government presented and passed
an "acknowledgement resolution" within Parliament concerning the
Armenian genocide. However, Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister
Peter MacKay recently tailored the Canadian acknowledgement of the
Armenian genocide. MacKay’s new position includes a statement in
support of a recent Turkish proposal to create a joint investigative
commission with Armenia concerning the events surrounding the
genocide, which the Armenian Foreign Minister dismissed as a
"smokescreen".

Democratic demands

Turkey currently faces multiple political crossroads. As negotiations
on European Union accession continue, pro-democracy activists
continue to mount pressure on the government to recognize the
Armenian genocide. Akçam argues that its open acknowledgment is
essential to allow an honest discussion of Turkey’s past, while
opening contemporary political space to address the treatment of
minorities today.

"Recognizing the Armenian genocide is a crucial point in the process
of building a vibrant Turkish democracy," says Akçam. "Although the
genocide occurred almost 100 years ago, it remains central to the
Armenian identity and directly relates to how Turkey treats its
minorities today, especially Kurds."

Both the Turkish government and military continue to publicly deny
the Armenian genocide, while grassroots political pressure to
recognize the genocide has grown in recent years. "Turkey is facing a
political fight between two forces. On one side, the democracy
movement–a civil movement without central organization–and on the
other side, the unelected authoritarian military bureaucracy which
until now has refused to relinquish its grip on power," says Akçam.
"The current government is caught in between these two political
forces."

Last month, Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink was
assassinated in Istanbul, allegedly by a Turkish ultra-nationalist.
Days after Dink’s death, hundreds of thousands gathered in Istanbul
to denounce the murder in one of the biggest demonstrations in
contemporary Turkish history.

"The Armenian diaspora should follow closely the current developments
in Turkey and build ties with the democracy movement," says Akçam.
"Turkey’s movement for democratic change views the recognition of the
Armenian genocide as part of its struggle, which is one of the
messages I will be bringing to Montreal."

rticle.cfm?SectionID=74&ItemID=12183

Agence France Presse — English
February 22, 2007 Thursday 9:30 AM GMT

Turkish MPs to lobby in US against Armenian genocide bill

Turkish legislators are to travel to Washington to lobby members of
the US Congress against a draft resolution recognising the mass
killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide,
parliamentary sources said Thursday.

Three separate delegations, including members of the ruling Justice
and Development Party and the main opposition Republican People’s
Party, will visit Washington in late February and in March to seek
support against the resolution, expected to be debated at the House
of Representatives in April.

The Democratic-controlled Congress is widely expected to back the
draft, even though the White House is opposed to it, wary over the
impact on relations with a key Muslim ally and a NATO member.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said after a visit to
Washington this month that passing the draft would "poison" ties and
"spoil everything" between the two countries.

In October 2000, a similar draft was pulled from the House floor
following an intervention by then president Bill Clinton.

President George W. Bush commemorates the massacres each year in a
speech, but stops short of calling them genocide.

The parliaments of many countries have recognised the killings as
genocide, and Turkey has responded by temporarily downgrading its
political and economic ties with some of them.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin perished in orchestrated
massacres and deportations in 1915-17 during World War I.

Turkey maintains that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in civil strife, when Armenians took up arms for independence in
eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops invading the crumbling
Ottoman Empire.