Author: Chatinian Lara

Manteca Bulletin, CA
July 24 2005

No more pressing business

Bobson Cleaners closing after 79 years

Bobson Cleaners, one of Manteca’s oldest-running family-owned
business institutions, is closing its doors after serving the
community for nearly eight decades. Seventy-nine years to be exact.
“It was just time. I’ve been there for over 50 years; it’s a long
time,” said Vi Bobson who has been at the helm of Bobson Cleaners for
about as long as she and husband Ernie have been married.

The business will remain open until Aug. 24 to allow customers to
come and pick up their dry-cleaned items; however, they are not
accepting any more work orders.

Bobson Cleaners’ history goes back to 1926 when a young immigrant
from Armenia named Mihran Bobson moved to Manteca and opened a
tailoring shop on the block of West Yosemite Avenue where Yosemite
Cafe is located today. A master tailor, Mihran came to California via
Chicago where he had a brother. But he also had another brother in
San Francisco who moved there the year of the great 1906 earthquake,
and a sister living in Los Angeles, and eventually left the Windy
City and followed those two siblings to the Golden State.

Mihran settled in Fresno where he had three flourishing tailor shops
for a number of years before he decided to make the move to Manteca,
not for any particular reason except for the fact it was near the
coast.

As Vi Bobson explained it, “He liked the idea of only 60 miles away
from the coast.”

Manteca was just a small and newly incorporated city when Mihran
opened his tailoring shop on West Yosemite Avenue. In 1930, he
“developed” the dry-cleaning business, as his youngest son Ernie put
it.

Ernie came into the business in 1950 after he graduated from the
University of the Pacific, then College of the Pacific, in Stockton
where he majored in business on a sports scholarship. He played
football for four years. Before that, an older brother managed the
business.

In the last 50 years, Bobson Cleaners grew into one big operation.
“At one time, we had 21 locations up and down the valley. We went all
the way down to Merced. We had three or four in Modesto. We had six
plants in Stockton. We had shops all the way to Walnut Creek, Castro
Valley as well as in Escalon and Oakdale,” recalled Vi who took over
the management of the business while her husband worked in real
estate development, commuting to his office in Sacramento for 20
years.

Managing the family business was originally not in Vi’s plans. A
science major at the University of the Pacific, she had planned to
work at a laboratory, which she did briefly. She worked for Manteca
chemist, Dr. Claire Weast. She also worked in national advertising at
the Stockton Record.

But the family business simply fell on her lap. “We do what we have
to do, don’t we?” she simply stated.

Fifteen years ago, Bobson Cleaners took a quantum leap when the
Bobsons tore down the old plant on the corner of their property at
North Main and Edison Street. They built the new building farther
back from North Main Street complete with state-of-the-art,
computerized equipment. The Bobsons’ property used to be larger, but
they later sold part of the land to Bank of Stockton.

Vi Bobson recalled that when they built the new facility, she said
she’d give the business two more years and then retire, but somehow
those two years turned to 15 years, she recalled with a laugh.

While the business flourished for many years, the Bobsons said they
have had their ups and downs like any other in the industry.

“Dry cleaning won’t make you rich but it’s a good bread and butter.
It sent four children to college,” Vi Bobson pointed out.

The youngest of the Bobsons’ four children is Dr. Craig Bobson of
Manteca, a family practitioner. Son Rancy is an engineer in San
Mateo, and oldest son Mark is an appraiser in Linden. Only daughter
Nimi Thackerson, a Sacramento State University graduate and an
artist, gave up her career as a buyer for major store chains 20 years
ago to come and help her parents manage the business in Manteca. She
is now helping her parents go through the process of closing the
business.

Thackerson said the family was fortunate to have had employees who
were “a big part of why this business worked” and became a success.

“They took pride in their work. They really took care of our business
like it was their business. We were very fortunate with the team that
we had. We have lots of loyalty here,” said Thackerson of Bobsons’
employees, many of whom have been with the company for many years.

Her assistant manager, Frances Rivera, for example, had been with
them for 10 years.

“Fran has done a great job in customer service. Everybody just loved
her; she’s the best,” said Thackerson who calls her mother “the
matriarch of the business for 50 years.”

Through the years, they have also met wonderful people in the
community who patronized their business, the Bobsons said. One
particular customer that they singled out was Joan Kauffman.

“She’d bring all the girls baked treats every week. She’s been such a
great inspiration to them; she gave us lots of support as customer,”
Thackerson enthused.

But helping people look good in their business suits and former wear
was not the only thing that Bobson Cleaners has given to the
community.

“My parents are great people who have done so much for this
community. I really admire them. My mother is a real humanitarian and
a philanthropist,” Thackerson said of her parents who, together, have
been involved in many civic organizations and projects. Ernie was a
charter member of one of the Kiwanis clubs in Manteca and is still
active in SIRS in Stockton, a club of retired professionals. Vi, for
her part, has been a member of the Manteca Federated Club for nearly
as long as she has been involved in the business. She continues to
remain active in the club. Both husband and wife also are currently
active in the Symphony Comes to Manteca Committee.

While running the business has been hectic and time-consuming, the
Bobsons managed to squeeze in some down time to pursue their
individual hobbies. Both golfed at one time. Ernie still does, but
since Vi’s stroke six years ago, she has given up the hobby. She was
active with a golfing group at Spring Creek Golf Course in Ripon
where she still continues to meet with fellow Federated Women for a
game of bridge regularly.

Vi Bobson said retirement will definitely be just as busy for her.

“I have a lot of things I’m involved in,” she said, as well as many
hobbies. One of them is upholstery and gardening.

“I’m a plain dirt farmer. I love to garden. I spend most of my time
in the back yard,” she said.

As for her husband, she said, “his avocation has always been his
vocation.”

Before they can start pursuing their avocations though, at least for
Vi Bobson there’s still plenty of things to keep her busy for the
next two months.

“I still have to do the bookkeeping. I have to dissolve a
corporation. It’s a lot of work,” she said.

Ankara trying to obstruct opening of genocide museum in Oslo

22.07.2005 14:51

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Turkish government is trying to obstruct the opening
of a section in a genocide museum that is due to open in Olso, Norway,
Armenpress reported, citing Haraj, an Armenian-language newspaper
published in France.

At his meeting with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Traavik,
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the space allocated for
the Armenian Genocide along with the Holocaust in the museum would
greatly offend the feelings of the Turkish people. “We expect it
would be banned,” the minister has said.

In reply, the Norwegian minister has said that the museum was a private
initiative, is not sponsored by the government, and that the government
could not interfere. Berken University History professor Furie, one
of the museum initiators, said the museum would open on August 30, the
day when Turks mark the “liberation” of their country from “enemies.”

JAPANESE TOUR OPERATORS ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

ArmenPress
July 20 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS: Within the framework of Familiarizion
trips to Armenia, five Japanese tour operators and one travel writer
arrived in Armenia on July 16, 2005 to discover Armenia’s eclectic
cultural treasures, ancient monasteries and natural wonders, and to
become acquainted with Armenia’s hospitable people.

For the last four years the Armenian Tourism Development Agency
(ATDA), in cooperation with the local tourism industry, has organized
over 12 “familiarization trips” for foreign tour operators, travel
agents and travel writers with the goal of increasing Armenia’s
tourism awareness globally, and positioning Armenia as a new and
attractive travel destination. Armenia was presented to the Japanese
audience for the first time ever in 2002 and again in 2004 at the
JATA (Japanese Association of Travel Agents) International Tourism
Exhibition in order to increase the small number of Asian tourists
visiting Armenia. As a positive outcome of the JATA exhibition, the
ATDA in cooperation with the Armenian tourism industry, hosted the
Japanese tourism professionals in Armenia.

Air travel was provided by “Aeroflot” Russian Airlines and ground
excursions to the southern and northern regions of Armenia were
provided by Saberatours Svan, Armentour travel agencies and the
Armenian Tourism Development Agency. The Familiarization trip is
sure to secure promising increase in the number of Asian tourists
for the coming tourist season and promote Armenia as an unrevealed
tourism destination.

The Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) has proactively
encouraged the development of Armenian tourism, both locally and
globally since 2001. Today, ATDA is chartered by the Government of
the Republic of Armenia, with funding from Hovnanian International.

“Aztag” Daily Newspaper
P.O. Box 80860, Bourj Hammoud,
Beirut, Lebanon
Fax: +961 1 258529
Phone: +961 1 260115, +961 1 241274
Email: [email protected]

“Bleus, beautes et maquillage”
Une interview d’Elif Shafak

Par Khatchig Mouradian
Traduction Louise Kiffer

Elif Shafak dit dans cette interview: ” les bleus et le maquillage”
est une metaphore que j’emploie pour decrire l’obsession moderniste
turque “Notre image aux yeux du monde occidental”. L’elite aime a
prouver aux Occidentaux combien les Turcs sont occidentalises et
modernises. Cependant quand elle en vient a une lecture critique du
passe, cette meme elite est indifferente, sinon ignorante.

C’est cette indifference et cette ignorance qu’Elif Shafak, que “The
Economist” considère etre “bien placee pour concurrencer Mr. (Orhan)
Pamuk en tant qu’importante romancière contemporaine de Turquie,
essaie d’affronter. Elle ne croit pas a “l’apparence exterieure”
decevante et suggère que la Turquie enlève son maquillage “pour voir
a la fois ses beautes et ses bleus du dessous”.

Elif Shafak est nee a Strasbourg, France, en 1971. Après avoir
passe son adolescence en Espagne, elle est retournee en Turquie,
elle a passe sa licence de Relations Internationales a l’Universite
Technique du Moyen Orient, et a obtenu son doctorat en 2004 du
Departement des Sciences Politiques de la meme universite. Elle
a enseigne a l’Universite de Bilgi a Istanbul et a l’Universite du
Michigan. Actuellement, elle est professeur assistante au Departement
des Etudes du Proche Orient a l’Universite de l’Arizona.

Elle a publie cinq romans: “Pinhan” (1997), “Sehrin Aynalari” (1999),
“Mahrem” (2000) , “Bit Palas” (2002), et “The Saint of Incipient
Insanities” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004), son premier roman en
anglais, traduit aussi en turc sous le titre “Araf”.

Ce n’est pas seulement comme romancière qu’Elif Shafak concurrence
Orhan Pamuk, mais aussi comme une personne qui se prepare a “faire
parler le silence”. Bien que certains en Turquie considèrent ceux qui
essaient de demaquiller la Republique turque comme des “donneurs de
coups de couteaux dans le dos ” ce sont les intellectuels comme Elif
Shafak qui vont entraîner le pays a affronter son passe et a faire
face a l’avenir.

Khatchig Mouradian – Heraclite dit: “Rien ne dure que le
changement”. En tant que personne avec des “itineraires incessants”
qui voit la vie “comme un voyage perpetuel où il n’y a ni destination
finale, ni desir d’en trouver une”, et en tant qu’ecrivain dont les
heros sont souvent sujets a des metamorphoses, comment expliquez-vous
votre implication dans le changement ?

Elif Shafak – A la naissance, nous naissons tous avec une certaine
idendite – que ce soit en termes de religion, de nationalite, de sexe,
etc.Notre nom nous est donne, ainsi que notre habitat et quelquefois
meme notre vision du monde. La question est celle-ci: en vivant la vie
que nous devons vivre, allons-nous mourir dans la meme travee, dans la
meme identite ? Ma reponse a cette question est: non. Je suis intriguee
par les metamorphoses. Je ne suis pas une sedentaire. Quoi que je sois,
je suppose que je suis une nomade. Cette sorte de nomadisme n’a pas
ete mon choix au debut, mais par la suite c’est devenu quelque chose
que j’ai deliberement, consciencieusement choisi.

Je suis nee en France, j’ai ete elevee par une mère celibataire, j’ai
eu deux grand’mères totalement differentes, avec deux comprehensions
totalement differentes de l’Islam, j’ai voyage de long en large a
travers differentes villes et differents pays, a chaque fois le cadre
changeait profondement, le sol sous mes pieds etait toujours sujet
a changement et la vie etait une serie de ruptures soudaines. J’ai
passe mon enfance en Espagne, j’ai fait les cent pas entre Amman
en Jordanie, Cologne en Allemagne, Ankara, et puis Istanbul.Ensuite
Boston, le Michigan, l’Arizona. Je vis maintenant dans deux endroits
en meme temps: l’Arizona d’une part, et Istanbul d’autre part. La seule
continuite qui a existe dans ma vie, le seul bagage qui m’a accompagne
partout où j’ai ete, ce fut mon ecriture, ce furent mes livres..

Transformation et transcendance sont au cour de mes livres. Je pense
que le livre et la pensee soufie comportent quelque chose de profond
en commun. Pour tous les deux la transformation et la transcendance
jouent un rôle de pivot. Pour moi, le livre n’est pas la capacite de
raconter son histoire aux autres, mais la capacite de faire siennes
les histoires des autres, et de votre histoire la leur.

J’ai des racines mais je ne suis pas enracinee. Selon le recit
islamique, un arbre vit dans les cieux la-haut. Il s’appelle
Tuba. C’est un arbre qui a la tete en bas et ainsi ses racines sont
en l’air. Parfois, je pense que mes livres sont une quete perpetuelle
du Tuba.

K.M.- Contrairement aux racines du Tuba dans le ciel, nos racines
terrestres peuvent etre frappees de honte et de souffrance, et c’est
pourquoi nous, etres humains, desirons sans doute les laisser sous
le sol. Il se peut que nous soyons fiers de nos racines, mais il est
rare que nous les revelions entièrement. Le livre peut-il porter les
fruits de la transformation, de la transcendance, et aussi du tuba
(la beatitude) ? Rend-il les lecteurs moins enracines, moins deracines,
et plus ouverts a leurs propres histoires et a celles des autres ?

E.S. – Le conflit entre la representation d’une identite particulière
et la question de l’essence meme des politiques d’identite est celle
qui m’intrigue profondement. Je me sens un peu tiraillee entre les
deux parce que suis une nomade, mais une nomade politique.

Ensuite, il y a un autre dilemme: ceux qui cherchent a effacer le
passe, a debarrasser leur memoire, en d’autres termes orientes vers
l’avenir, et puis ceux pour qui le passe determine les paramètres
de base, en d’autres termes orientes vers le passe. Je ne crois pas
que ce soit un dilemme qui puisse etre surmonte par le raisonnement
seul. Les opinions politiques internationales d’aujourd’hui n’aiment
pas l’ambiguïte. Les opinions politiques n’aiment pas l’ambivalence.
Pourtant l’univers de l’art, le monde de la fiction, necessite des
ambiguïtes, des flexibilites. Il faut qu’il soit fluide. Seulement
alors, le livre peut porter les fruits de la transformation et de
la transcendance. On a besoin d’etre deracine afin de ressentir
de l’empathie, a defaut de rapport, avec les histoires des autres,
au moins jusqu’a ce que le livre soit acheve, on a besoin de faire
un pas hors de sa zone d’existence.

Aux USA, par exemple, il y a une tendance a attribuer une fonction
a la fiction, comme si chaque livre devait avoir une fonction. De
meme, si par hasard vous etes “une femme ecrivain du Moyen Orient”
alors on attend de vous que vous ecriviez sur les “femmes du Moyen
Orient”. Votre identite passe avant la qualite de vos livres, ce que
je trouve très deroutant. En fait, je trouve cette attente pleine de
compassion extremement defavorable a la fiction. La fiction pour moi
n’est pas le recit de ma propre histoire mais la possibilite de ne
pas etre moi-meme.

En meme temps, je dirais que je ne suis pas en train de propager
une fiction consacree a des considerations politiques. Au contraire,
la relation entre les idees esthetiques et politiques est pour moi
d’un profond interet.

“Politique et esthetique” ne se marient pas facilement, mais en tant
que romancière turque, je ne pense pas avoir le luxe d’etre apolitique
dans ce monde; En consequence, la fluidite ou la flexibilite ne
signifie pas etre apolitique, au contraire, elle entraîne un choix
politique et une tendance a l’empathie.

K.M. – Dans l’un de vos articles d’opinion vous dites: “Alors qu’il
est probablement vrai que beaucoup d’Occidentaux doivent regarder
de plus près les accomplissements remarquables de la Turquie et
sa recherche inhabituelle historique d’une reponse a la question
vitale de la compatibilite de l’Islam avec la democratie occidentale,
de nombreux Turcs, a leur tour, doivent demaquiller leur figure et
commencer a admettre les bleus restes dans leur histoire”. Pouvez-vous
nous parler de ces bleus ?

E.S. – les bleus et le maquillage” est une metaphore que j’emploie
pour decrire l’obsession moderniste turque “Notre image aux yeux du
monde occidental”. L’elite aime a prouver aux Occidentaux combien les
Turcs sont occidentalises et modernises. Cependant quand elle en vient
a une lecture critique du passe, cette meme elite est indifferente,
sinon ignorante.

La modernisation de la Turquie s’est faite en parfait accord avec la
transformation d’un empire multiethnique, multilingue, multireligieux,
en un Etat-nation turc soi-disant homogène. Ce processus est rempli
de traumas, de pertes, et de souvenirs douloureux dont un grand nombre
ont ete quelque peu effaces de notre memoire collective.

Nos lignees familiales, si vous remontez plusieurs siècles en arrière,
seraient probablement multiethniques, mais l’ethnologie est une source
de suspicion si l’on choisit d’en parler sur la place publique. On
peut etre qui on veut dans sa vie privee, chez soi, mais dans le
domaine public on doit seulement etre un Turc. Cette distinction
entre la sphère privee et la sphère publique est pour moi d’un très
grand interet.

Autrefois, cette societe etait si heterogène au point de vue
ethnique qu’aussitôt après 1923 nous nous sommes habitues a agir
et a penser comme si nous etions maintenant un tout homogène. Ce
qui est interessant a propos du nationalisme turc, c’est qu’il se
fie beaucoup aux mots, plutôt qu’au sang, aux genes ou a la race,
comme le font les autres types de nationalisme dans d’autres pays.

Pour le nationalisme turc, on peut etre kurde, armenien, serbe.ca
revient au meme tant qu’on prononce les mots:” Qu’il est heureux
celui qui s’appelle un Turc !” C’est la une caracteristique très
interessante de l’identite nationale turque. Quoi qu’on dise, quoi
qu’on fasse, en d’autres termes, c’est toujours l’apparence exterieure
qui est essentielle.

C’est ce souci de “l’apparence exterieure” que je trouve très
penible. A la place, je suggère ce demaquillage pour voir a la fois
les beautes et les bleus au-dessous, a la fois les beautes et les
atrocites du passe. Il y a les taches et les cicatrices restant de
la transition d’un empire multiethnique a un etat-nation soit disant
monolithique. La perte de l’heritage cosmopolite et de la structure
multiethnique est une perte culturelle, sociale, economique, politique
et une enorme perte morale pour la Turquie, et pour les prochaines
generations qui vont etre elevees sans la connaissance de cette perte.

K.M. – Est-ce pour regagner une partie de la connaissance de
cette perte que vous etes en train de “preparer un projet sur les
“Histoires orales des Femmes concernant l’Amnesie collective: les
Recits des Grand’mères armeniennes, turques et grecques “?Pourquoi
les citoyens de la Republique turque au 21ème siècle “ont-ils besoin
d’ecouter les souvenirs supprimes des grand’mères turques” concernant
“les atrocites. que les Turcs ont commises envers les Armeniens”
il y a un siècle dans l’Empire ottoman, par exemple ?

E.S. – Tout le debat sur le passe turco-armenien est profondement
politise et polarise aujourd’hui. Il est aussi obsede par les documents
et les archives ecrites. Or, je pense que la culture orale est tout
autant valable. Comme conteuse, je m’interesse en premier lieu a ces
histoires-la. Les histoires dont les vieilles femmes de Turquie se
souviennent encore. Dans beaucoup de familles aujourd’hui, il y a des
vieilles femmes qui se rappellent les atrocites commises envers les
Armeniens dans le passe, je pense que c’est specialement valable de
ressortir cette accumulation de connaissance. C’est une autre source
de savoir.

Ce ne sont pas seulement les atrocites du passe, mais aussi les
beautes du passe que nous pouvons decouvrir dans ce filon, car
plusieurs de ces vieilles femmes avaient des voisines, des amies;
elles ont des souvenirs. La Question armenienne est le combat de
la memoire contre l’amnesie, et je crois que nous avons besoin des
souvenirs des grand’mères plus qu’autre chose, car elles ne sont pas
aussi politisees ou polarisees que les historiens ou les politiciens
le sont aujourd’hui.

K.M. – Vous referant a l’annulation de la conference d’Istanbul qui
devait debattre de la thèse de l’Etat sur la Question armenienne, vous
dites dans un article intitule “Alors, j’ai donne un coup de couteau
dans le dos a la Nation ?” “Si nos politiciens perspicaces n’etaient
pas intervenus a la dernière minute, j’aurais failli m’arreter de
prononcer des affirmations très prejudiciables”. Votre presentation
devait etre sur la poetesse Zabel Yessayan. Voulez-vous maintenant
donner un resume de ce texte “très prejudiciable” et “coup de couteau
dans le dos” que vous alliez presenter ?

E.S.- Ma presentation a la conference d’Istanbul allait etre sur Zabel
Yessayan. Je suis fascinee par sa vie et son ouvre et je pense que
c’est dommage que les intellectuels turcs d’aujourd’hui ne sachent
rien d’elle. De meme, nous ne savons presque rien des intellectuels
armeniens de la dernière epoque ottomane.

Plus significative peut-etre est la question suivante: pourquoi
l’elite du gouvernement turc etait-elle si perturbee par les ecrits
des intellectuels armeniens ? Pourquoi a-t-elle voulu faire taire
leurs voix ? Pourquoi les poètes, les romanciers, les journalistes
etaient-ils juges dangereux ? Comment et pourquoi pensait-on que
l’ecriture etait dangereuse ? Voila les questions que je projetais
de soulever a la conference.

Aujourd’hui en Turquie peu de gens savent qu’avant le debut de
la deportation, une liste de 240 intellectuels armeniens etait
concoctee par le gouvernement, une liste d’esprits dangereux ! de
plumes dangereuses ! Parmi eux se trouvaient de nombreux artistes et
ecrivains. C’etait ceux de cette liste que l’Etat voulait supprimer
et reduire au silence. Zabel Yessayan semble etre la seule femme de
cette liste.

C’est une vieille tactique de pouvoir et de domination. Si l’on
veut avoir le contrôle et imposer la contrainte a une population
minoritaire, il faut d’abord et avant tout contrôler et contraindre
son intelligence, ses intellectuels, ses penseurs. L’elite ottomane
semble avoir pris ces mesures.

Si nous pouvons comprendre la liste des intellectuels armeniens de
1915, je l’espère, nous intellectuels turcs de 2005 pourrons mieux
comprendre, reconnaître et deplorer l’injustice commise envers la
minorite armenienne, et la dynamique du pouvoir derrière ce processus
historique.

–Boundary_(ID_atHBSLE6AoCr4oLMsJOrmg)–

ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION NOT TO REPLACE COOPERATION WITH CSTO

PanArmenian News Network
July 20 2005

20.07.2005 04:38

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha said he
does not see any ground for statements that “Armenia is reviewing
its participation in the CSTO.” On the contrary, Armenia is one of
the active members of our organization. It is true that the country
cooperates with the U.S. and NATO. However the cooperation within the
CSTO is the basis of Armenia’s security. Both Defense Minister Serge
Sargsian and President Robert Kocharian said it for many times”, N.
Bordyuzha said. At the same time Rossiyskie Vesti newspaper commented
on the Armenia-NATO and Armenia-CSTO relations in an article titled
“They make zombie of Armenia”. The newspaper cites the statement by
NATO Special Representative for South Caucasus Robert Simmons, who said
that Armenia can count on NATO’s support if expresses desire to free
itself from the Russian bases on its territory. “West has been for
a long time exerting efforts to gain over Armenia. For this purpose
some military-political changes in the region are used. The fact
is that official Yerevan views Turkey as a threat and respectively
anchors hopes with Moscow and the Russian troops. However presently
Turkey is aspired for the EU and consequently wished to appear in
the best possible light. In the opinion of some Armenian analysts,
the Armenian leadership does not consider Ankara to be an enemy and
does not view Russia as the only possible ally”, the newspaper writes,
Mediamax agency reports.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

July 20, 2005
___________________

TRIP TO ARMENIA BOOSTS TIES BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), traveled throughout
Armenia with a delegation from the U.S. Episcopalian church, headed
by that organization’s Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.

They were in Armenia from July 3 to 9, 2005. During the trip, the
delegation met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, toured historic Armenian Church sites,
and had a meeting with America’s ambassador to Armenia, John Evans.
They also talked with ecumenical leaders in Armenia and officials
with the Armenian Bible Society.

They also attended a lunch at the summer residence of the Catholicos,
Purakan, to which the Catholicos had invited all the diocesan bishops
in Armenia and leading clergy.

“The Episcopalian Church has been one of the closest churches to
the Armenians in the last 100 years, and they have always had a very
close relationship with Armenians. They have always opened their doors
for the Armenians,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Eastern Diocese. “When we came here after the Genocide of 1915, the
only churches that opened and accepted us were the Episcopalians.
The rest completely refused the Armenians, so that friendship has
been continuing.”

This was the first visit to Armenia by Bishop Griswold. Bishop
Aykazian said he seemed impressed by the people of Armenia and their
strong faith.

“He said that this, from all his trips, was the most successful and
the best trip,” the legate said.

The trip was important to not just continue the historically strong
friendship, but to assure that the two organizations will be there
to support each other in the future.

“This helps build a stronger relationship between the Episcopalian and
Armenian Churches, and stronger cooperation between our two churches,”
Bishop Aykazian said. “We are living in a country where we need to
support each other and help each other and talk with each other.”

— 7/20/05

# # #

Karabakh should participate in Armenian-Azeri talks – Karabakh leader

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
18 Jul 05

[Correspondent Artur Grigoryan] The Karabakh conflict is older and
more complicated than other conflicts in the post-Soviet area. Work
on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is not stable
like other political processes. Today we are already talking about
some possible joint document. We will discuss the current stage of
the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict with the president
of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Arkadiy Gukasyan.

[Corespondent] Mr President, thank you very much for accepting my
invitation. My first question – is it true that the negotiating
process has entered another active stage?

[Gukasyan] Perhaps, we can make such a conclusion, if we take into
account that Azerbaijan’s position is more constructive today than in
the past. Azerbaijan has expressed its readiness to discuss issues
that have always been of interest to Karabakh. For example, if in
the past Azerbaijan refused to discuss the status of Karabakh, today
this issue is on the agenda. This means that Azerbaijan has entered
a constructive stage.

[Correspondent] What does it mean? Is it connected with Azerbaijan’s
domestic or foreign policy?

[Gukasyan] Probably, all existing points of view are related to
this issue [as heard], taking into account that Azerbaijan will hold
elections in November and a lot depends on these elections. Perhaps,
this is one of the reasons. Second, international organizations have
been working with Azerbaijan for a long time and I think that they
have assured Azerbaijan that they cannot resolve this conflict if
Azerbaijan takes such a position. I believe that it is wrong to discuss
all issues only with Armenia and to deny the Karabakh factor, and I
am sure that the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group also think so. I
think that this is also the result of the OSCE mediators’ work with
the leadership of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, there are developments
that do not depend on Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh. Today
the international community is interested in solving the conflict in
a peaceful way and I think Azerbaijan cannot ignore this.

[Correspondent] Mr President, how do you define the criteria of the
current stage of the negotiations? There are meetings between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, and on the other hand,
the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group visit Stepanakert all the
time. Do they all yield good results?

[Gukasyan] Karabakh is not taking an active part in the negotiating
process, it is only participating in meetings with the co-chairmen
and there is an opinion that Karabakh has been sidelined from the
negotiating process. I am confident that it is difficult to solve the
conflict without Nagornyy Karabakh’s involvement. Today Azerbaijan
refuses to discuss this issue with Karabakh itself. I can say that
Azerbaijan is still not ready to settle the conflict because any
discussion with Armenia without Nagornyy Karabakh’s participation is
just a propaganda trick. It is the same approach as Azerbaijan says on
the one hand that Armenia is an aggressor and has occupied Azerbaijan
territories and on the other, discusses this and other issues with
Armenia. I am sure that Karabakh is not sidelined from the process.

I have repeatedly noted in fun that if we are interested in the
end result, it does not matter if Karabakh participates or not in
the negotiating processes. Let Spain or Portugal participate in
the negotiations, I do not see any problem here. As long as the
independence of Nagornyy Karabakh is recognized and we get what we
want, Armenia’s participation in the talks is not a problem for us.
But I am confident that the stage, where Karabakh will participate
in the talks, is approaching.

[Passage omitted: Repeating ideas about the OSCE mediators’ meetings
with the Azerbaijani leadership]

GIBRAHAYER
e-magazine

[email protected]

The largest circulation Armenian
online e-magazine on the WWW

north_088.jpg

AZERBAIJAN FLIES DIRECT TO OCCUPIED AREAS
Turkish Cypriot KIBRIS newspaper (15.07.05) reports that a
private airline company in Azerbaijan will launch direct flights to
the occupied Tymbou Airport as of 31 July.
Aleksandr Guliyev, the owner of the “Improtex Travel” company in
Azerbaijan, declared that Im-Air airlines belonging to his company
will start direct flights to occupied Cyprus every Sunday as of 31
July. Guliyev said that there is no political purpose behind the
decision to start the direct flights.
The launching of direct flights between Azerbaijan and the areas
of Cyprus under the occupation of 40,000 Turkish troops was first
raised during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erd! ogan’s June visit to
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan will thus become the second country after Turkey to
conduct direct flights to the occupied territories of the Republic of
Cyprus.

TALAT’S COMMENTS:
“We believe that there should definitely be flights to Ercan Airport
not only from Istanbul but also from other countries. The question of
political recognition is another matter. We are waging a struggle to
have the measures that keep us in isolation removed. Our objective is
to solve the Cyprus problem. It is the solution of the Cyprus problem
through an agreement. However, the Turkish Cypriots should not have
been kept in isolation particularly after they demonstrated their
determination to work for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The
main objective of the Azerbaijani deputies is to contribute towards
the ! removal of the measures that keep the Turkish Cypriots in
isolation. That is how the matter should be viewed. The removal of
the isolation will encourage others, particularly the Greek Cypriot
administration which is not interested in an agreement, to agree to
contribute towards the solution of the problem. The strategic
objective is the solution of the Cyprus problem. That has to be
considered.”

pamuk.jpg TURKISH AUTHOR BREAKS SILENCE
(Deutsche Welle/Marmara) Breaking his silence to the media, Turkish
novelist Orhan Pamuk spoke to the Turkish paper Sabah about many
topics, and addressed Turkey’s denial of the Armenian genocide–the
very same subject that caused his rejection of the press.
In an interview to a Swiss paper, Pamuk – Turkey’s best-selling
novelist, conveyed that one million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds had
been killed in Turkey.
The fallout in Turkey was tremendous. Pamuk, who is consistently
an outspoken critic of his country’s inability to own up to its often
harrowing history, subsequently chose not to speak to the press. But
Pamuk, who was recently awarded ! the German Book Trade’s Peace
Prize, told Sabah that he simply told the Swiss paper what he knows
to be true. “I do not hold animosity toward anyone, but as you very
well know, if you speak about the history of a country–and address a
sensitive issue, and convey what you believe, then you invite
indignation and reaction. I knew that.”
Condemnation is not new to Pamuk. Nationalist groups have
always been angry at his criticism of Turkey’s treatment of its
Kurdish minority, and want to see his books removed from public
libraries. Admirers, however, see his work as a rejection of a recent
intellectual tradition that aspires to be western by ignoring the
past. “If you try to repress memories, something always comes back,”
Pamuk once said in an interview with Time magazine. “I’m what comes
back.”
He also told Sabah that such issues as Turkey’s acceptance of
the Armenian genocide can not be solved with a few random statements
“This is not something to be undertaken by three or five people.
These truths will ravel slowly. We will know when we begin to tell
each other the truth–but we must, nevertheless, be taught.”
Germany’s recent award to Pamuk–one of most prestigious
cultural prizes–seems to have reflected a growing awareness that
many of the issues preoccupying Turkey these days have a profound
global resonance.
Pamuk was rewarded just one week after demonstrations took place
in Berlin against the German parliament’s resolution in memory of the
massacre of Armenians by Turks in 1915. Yavus Baydar from the
newspaper Sabah has described the award as “very significant for
freedom of speech in Turkey.” He knows what he’s talking about.
Earlier this year, he asked Pamuk to write an article for Sabah about
South Korea. After it was published, he was bombarded with outraged
readers’ mail, accusing him of having given a vo! ice to a “traitor.”
more at the Gibrahayer section on “Books by Turkish writers.”

dink.jpg ARMENIAN JOURNALIST FACES THREE YEARS JAIL IN TURKISH JAIL
Reporters Without Borders today criticised the current trial of
a Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, for “insulting Turkish
identity” and said the government taboo against publicly discussing
the 1915 genocide against Armenians was a “continuing barrier to
freedom of expression” in Turkey.
It said that with only three months to go before negotiations
were due to start about Turkey joining the European Union, Dink
risked being jailed under article 301 of the criminal code for
publishing an article (on 13 February 2004) called “Getting to know
Armenia” in the Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly, Agos, that he
runs. His t! rial began on 7 July before a court in Sisli, Istanbul.
The world press freedom organisation said it was concerned about
fuzzy language in the new criminal code that could “easily be used
against journalists discussing sensitive topics,” such as the
Armenian genocide or withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus.
Dink’s article urged Armenians to turn their attention “to the
new blood of independent Armenia,” as the only way to free them from
the burden of exile and called on them to symbolically reject “the
adulterated part of their Turkish blood.” Nine complaints for
“insulting Turkish identity” had been filed against him by 16 April
2004 before the Sisli court.
“This trial is based on a total misunderstanding,” Dink told
Reporters Without Borders. “I never meant to insult Turkish citizens.
The term in question was taken out of context and is only symbolic.
The real! subject of the article is the Armenian diaspora who,
once they have come to terms with the Turkish part of their identity,
can seek new answers to their questions from independent Armenia.”
State prosecutor Turgay Evsen has called for a three-year prison
sentence for Dink under the new penal code, which came into force on
1 June. Dink founded his paper in Istanbul in 1996 and it has a
circulation of 5,500.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
WHY ARE THE SHEEP IN EASTERN TURKEY THROWING THEMSELVES FROM THE
CLIFFS AND COMMITTING SUICIDE IN MASS NUMBERS?

Your comments to [email protected]

RECOMMENDED WEBSITE The Health InterNetwork Access to Research
Initiative (HINARI, ) is a project
administered by the World Health Organization (WHO) in conjunction
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) put considerable effort in distributing information
about the availability of this resource. However, only 4 institutions
from Armenia curre! ntly have this most valuable scientific resource
The majority of Armenian physicians and scientists are still unaware
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All research institutions, universities and hospitals in Armenia
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HINARI provides access to full-text articles from 2884 biomedical
journals.
We urge all Armenian biomedical and health care institutions to
register with HINARI by accessing and
following the registration requirements.

nets111.jpg TATIANA’S CORNER
This corner is reserved for local artist Tatiana Ferahian’s comic
strips which are [limassolinareg.jpg] amalgamations of
Armenian-Cypriot social commentaries, painted with her usual wry and
ironic humour, to stimulate and encourage awareness and interest
toward our community’s everyday happenings.

MELKONIAN THIS WEEK –
Berj Khavarich. AGBU’s doomsday President. click here for article

DIARY SECTION
~U”All these years they have been happy to milk the Melkonian, jobs
for their friends, free accommodation for their friends and
relatives, a veritable power base for whoever controls the school.”
~UBerg Setrakian in Cyprus ?
~UNo doubt as the court action against the AGBU in Cyprus draws
nearer, the local “chefigs” are finally realising that those that
sleep with dogs, catch fleas.

apostles1.jpg ARMENIAN MUSIC
By Arek Dakessian in Beirut – Armenian Music is the new section in
Gibrahayer, dedicated to bringing Armenian Music closer to Armenians,
shedding light on the Armenian music scene, Armenian history in
music, how all this has affected the Armenian Question and to try to
realize the full potential of our music, which is a significant
aspect in our culture.

ARAKYALNER – The Godfathers of Armenian rock Music
Three guys from the polytechnic in the mid-sixties started a
band named Arakyalner. Arthur Meschian, Levon Melikian, and G! rigor
Nalbandian were the ‘Arakyalner’ and they started playing a very
unique – and attractive – blend of Armenian Folklore, Gothic music,
and modern rock. Known only as ‘a band from the polytechnic’ in their
earliest days, they quickly earned the love of Armenian rock
listeners. Arakyalner sang about pain, grief, and sorrow, the
historical heritage of our Armenian history, this was very often at
the heart of the contents of their songs. Meschian’s lyrics
questioned meaning of life, pain, joy, and pride. Some of their songs
were written for the lyrics of a great Armenian poet: Mushegh
Ishkhan. Arakyalner never released any official albums, as plans to
release “Requiem” in the late 60’s were nullified by the communist
regime, due to the lyrical contents being deemed anti-communist. Many
demo tapes were made however.
Their concerts were – almost constantly – sabotaged by the
government: Blocking entrances to the concert, cutting off the
electricity, fort! ifying the area with troops… These never
succeeded. One paragon of such an event is “the sight of thousands of
students breaking though police barricades to get into the concert
halls where Arakyalner were performing”, when “Arthur’s voice soared
over his acoustic guitar and reached every person in the back row”.
With Arthur Meschian (vocals, guitars, keyboards, violin), Levon
Melikian (guitars), and Grigor Nalbandian (drums, percussion)
Arakyalner lived from the mid-sixties to the seventies, sadly never
making it into the eighties.
Since then, the drummer/percussionist Grigor Nalbandian passed
away, Levon Melikian the guitarist is still in Yerevan, and Meschian
worked as an architect, realising a number of famous projects like
the Zvartnots airport, he occasionally made performances within a
small group of friends. In 1989, when Meschian moved to Boston with
his family, the music of Arakyalner regained the popularity it h! ad
lost during the eighties, old fans along with a new contingent of
teenagers started rediscovering Arakyalner.
All this made Meschian start recording again, as he released in
the nineties several albums, such as “Wander”, “Catharsis”, and
“Monologue of a Crazy Violinist”. These contained mostly new material
with some old songs. He toured around America and in Armenia, and in
1997, while performing with a symphonic orchestra, decided to
reestablish himself in Armenia, and even accepted the post of Chief
Architect of Armenia… Due to circumstances, he returned to Boston
the next year.
The latest news is that Arthur Meschian has taken a hiatus from
writing and performing and concentrates on his job and family.

YOUR EMAILS
Dear Simon,
We are getting very regular “Gibrahayer” newsletters editions
and we read them with great pleasure. All the materials enclosed in
the newsletter are very important events accessions in our life,
which we can’t pertain with indifference.
Some materials, which are enclosed in the newspaper are
discussed in our Organisation. But as we are not professionals in
these field, that’s why we only stay as a passive reader, getting
information and supporting mutual role.
Our Organisation is “Goris Youth Union” NGO and has 1300
members. We have different working groups and work in different
field, about which you can get acquainted visiting to our WEB site

As a result ! of reading your newsletters, we had a new idea, we
created a new working group, which will carry out especially Armenian
main matters and Armenia defending policy.
We think that in the near future we will obtain some knowledge
and skills in that field. In that case we can someway support to the
your newsletter (giving information), through which we think we can
also support to that Global work, to which directed the
“Gibrahayer” newsletter.
Best Regards – Karine Movsisyan – President of – “Goris Youth
Union”

Dear Karine,
Thank you for your kind words.
Bushfrancearmenie.jpg We are more than happy to assist you in
anything you ! consider important.
You have already taken the first step.
Your website is being promoted through this first email.
We wish your organisation all the best.
Simon Aynedjian

____________________________________________________________________________
You do not have to be Armenian to appreciate this cover of France
Armenie. Every year the Armenians wait for the American president to
say the word “Genocide” for what happened to the Armenians. Every
year there are expressions of regret for the unfortunate massacres.
This cover is hysterical, all the more because you could change the
Turkish flag on the end of the zipper to any number of other symbols
and it would work.
Enjoy! … Sylvia Bourdjian

____________________________________________________________________________
MORE SHEEPISH THOUGHTS !!!sheep.jpg
Hi Simon,
This article in Gibrahayer is very interesting… I’m having multiple
sheepish thoughts on this incident:
1. I’m wondering if coincidentally the same cliff was used for
suicides and/or mass murders of Armenians during the Genocide…
(worth checking it out) Psychic consciousness and sensitivity can run
deep – even in sheep.
2. Maybe the sheep just had enough of their shepherds’ perversions.
3. Maybe there is a natural disaster (like massive earthquake)
brewing in that area soon… Any news about what the other animals
are up to? If they are leaving the area (or killing themselves)
then we can expect a natural calamity to strike the region. In which
case Armenia should be warned.
hugs xxx
Alidz Sarkissian

____________________________________________________________________________
Hello Simon,
I am one of your weekly reader of your amazing weekly newsletter &
appreciate the wonderful job you do to pass around the news of
Armenia and Armenians around the world.
In you last edition, “Petro dollars funding Azeri war machine”, you
have a title about Atom Egoyan as “Atomic Truth” regarding his
appearance At the 40th international film festival in Czech health
resort of Karlovi Vari. There is one thing I would like to bring to
your attention. Atom Egoyan is Armenian – Canadian, and not a
Armenian-American. as where ever he goes he represent not only
Armenian background of what he has, but the Canada.
Thanks and Regards
Armen Simrojian

____________________________________________________________________________
Dear Gibrahayer,
My name is Carol and I’m a year 12 student from Sydney. I’m currently
doing my hsc and as an assignment for a subject i had to choose a
subject of my choice relating to society and culture. Being an
Armenian and very much into my culture and religion i chose the topic
“The Armenian genocide, what really happened and how does it affect
the Armenians today”. After reading several of your emails, I figured
that maybe your magazine can help me with my project by answering the
following topic question. Any additional comments and / or
information about emotional affects and the way we live and act will
be very useful, and appreciated.
Thank you
yours sincerely – Carol

Fell free to respond to Carol at [email protected]
Simon Aynedjian

____________________________________________________________________________
It is a well known fact that Egoyan is a Canadian, not an
American-Armenian. Cheers, Lola in NYC

____________________________________________________________________________
Definitely one for the files of Mohammedan History. This is the
genocide for which the Turks not only refuse to apologize, but even
to not recognize. Stella

ARTSAGANG JUNE 2005 You can now read the Armenian community’s 20-
page monthly Armenian publication (June 2005 issue number 123) in
front of your computer in pdf format at:

KHORAN The April-May 2005 special issue of “Khoran” – the periodical
of the Armenian Prelacy of Greece, dedicated to the 90th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide – is now available in pdf format. It
contains a wide selection of articles, submitted by Armenians from
around the world, about the importance of the 90th anniversary. The
special issue of “Khoran” can be downloaded from

Also check out news and previous publications of “Khoran” at

newsinbrief.gif ~UThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) found
Turkey guilty of inhumane treatment of a 17-year old boy while in
police custody, and demanded they pay 8,000 euro to him.
~UOne of the senior members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin,
His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian entered his eternal rest. At
the time of his death, Abp. Ajemian was the dean of the Theological
Faculty of Yerevan State University. He was 79 years old.
~UTurkey has always backed Azerbaijan in the Karabakh issue, and it
always will, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news
conference in Baku.
~UArmenian peacemakers departed for Iraq on July 13. They comprise of
46 military men of which 30 drivers, three doctors, ten sappers, one
communication officer, a platoon leader commander and an officer
fulfilling general command.
~UGreek ambassador to Armenia, Antonios Vlavianos, during his
Vanadzor visit said the following. “The Greek government consider
Armenia to be a republic with European culture. As we know, Greece is
a member of the EU and it proposed to include Armenia in New
Neighborhood project. We are especially eager to develop the region
of Lori”
~URenowned Armenian-Canadian film director Atom Egoyan, opened an
international film festival in Yerevan on Tuesday, hailing a “great
selection” of works that will be screened during the five-day event.
The second annual Golden Apricot Festival – the biggest in Armenia’s
history – will feature movies and documentaries by filmmakers from
over a dozen countries.
~UPrime Minister Tayyip Erdogan denounced BBC and Reuters, for not
describing the
armed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a terrorist
group. Speaking at the Ankara Chamber of Industry after observing a
two-minute silence for the victims of last week’s bomb attacks in
London, he warned against double standards in tackling terrorism in
Turkey and in Britain.

BOOKS BY TURKISH WRITERS

O
R
H
A
N

P
A
M
U
K

AVAILABLE NOW From MOUFFLON Bookshops
[email protected] Tel: +357 22 665155

AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
Istanbul £17.30

LITERARY MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTION:
Hidden Histories GRANTA no 85 spring 2004 £10.50

FICTION:
My Name is Red £8.40 (won the Dublin Literature Award in 2003)
The Black Book £8.40
The New Life £8.40
The White Castle £7.30

Snow (his most recent fiction set in Kars) £7.30

ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT

WHO IS ORHAN PAMUK?
Born in 1952, Pamuk grew up among Turkey’s secular upper
classes. After spending several years in New York, he was given a
mixed reception when he returned to Istanbul, the city where he was
born. The country’s Islamic intellectuals accused him of exploiting
religious and historical themes to pander to Western tastes.
He enjoys both commercial success and critical acclaim in his
home country. His 1990 novel “Kara Kitap” is widely seen as one of
the most controversial and popular readings in Turkish literature.
But despite his phenomenal popularity, Turkey itself has a
love-hate relationship with Pamuk.
In 1998, Ankara wanted to present him with Turkey’s highest cultural
accolade, the title of state artist. He rejected the honor. “For yea!
rs I have been criticising the state for putting authors in jail, for
only trying to solve the Kurdish problem by force, and for its
narrow-minded nationalism,” said Pamuk.
“I don’t know why they tried to give me the prize.”
This time, though, Pamuk will be accepting his award–at the
Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

SPORTS NEWS AND CALENDAR
~UThe Cyprus Davis Cup Team earned a promotion to Category II after
defeating Turkey, Armenia, host country Ireland as well as Tunisia
and San Marino. The tie that decided the promotion was contested last
Saturday against host country Ireland, in front of a vocal partisan
crowd at the Fitzwilliam Tennis Club in Dublin, during which the
Cyprus team won three (two singles and one doubles) final set
contests with Photos Kallias, Marcos Baghdatis and Demetris Leontis.
more (in Greek) at: ;ac=1
~UChampions League results and upcom! ing ties
FC Haka (Finland) vs. Pyunik (Armenia) 1-0
Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) vs. Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus) 1-1
UEFA Cup:
Omonia (Cyprus) vs. Hibernians (Malta) 3-0
Birkirkara (Malta) Vs APOEL (Cyprus) 0-2
FC Banants Vs FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi 2-3
FSV Mainz – FC Mika 4-0
~U() With the new rankings of the seniors tour
released on July 8, 2005 Simon Aynedjian is ranked 128 in the world
in the seniors category, ahead of Greek champion George Anagnostakis
ranked 471 and Turkish champion Oguz Azkara ranked 422. Darko Strizak
of Serbia (that Aynedjian defeated in the finals of the last ITF tou!
rnament) is ranked 73 in the world.
All the rankings at

THE ARMENIAN TITANS- by Prof.Hovhannes Pilikian

The Armenian community of Istanbul is a Promethean miracle of
the twentieth century. They were marked for genocidal destruction by
Sultan Hamid and the Young Turk regime that toppled him (while
adopting his policies towards the Armenian natives of Byzantium).
Today, they count ten fold the number of the London Armenians of ten
thousand. The latt! er has an improvised Sunday school renting an
English primary in Acton Town, and a single puny church (built by
Istanbuli Calouste Gulbenkian as a private altar in London, then left
to the community by him). The Armenians in Istanbul possess eighteen
totally Armenian community owned schools, and thirty three churches,
built in Ottoman times, and surviving the massacres of 1915. click
here for the article

g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r

~UNor Seround Cultural Association – Badanegan Committee. Dziadzan –
ourakh jamer manougnerou hamar. Dancing fun & games. Saturday July,
23 starting from 6:00 pm at Aghlanja forest (next to Filoxenia). Sign
up with Gayane Mahdessian 99307229, Karekin Fendekian 99478941. Open
invitation to badanis of our community until the age of ten.
~UCommemoration of Khanasor Arshavank on Sunday July 24, 2005 in
Troodos at Loumada Ton Aeton Picnic Site (last year’s venue – before
Pasha Livadhi Picnic site turn left and follow the tricolours).
Speaker of the day: ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus representative Unger
Vahan Aynedjian.
~UThe Yerevan State Youth Theatre is participating in the
International Festival of A! ncient Greek Drama 2005 performing
Clouds by Aristophanes on Thursday 28 July 2005 at Makarios III
Amphitheatre, Nicosia and Saturday 30 July, 2005 at the Ancient
Paphos Odeon. Both performances begin at 9:00 pm and tickets are CYP
10.00. The Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Oshagan
Cyprus Chapter is organising a Welcoming Dinner to our performing
compatriots at AYMA on Wednesday 27 July, 2005 at 8:00. You can
participate only by reservation by calling Louise Aynedjian on
99533684.
~U7th Homenetmen Pan Armenian Games-Athens-Greece 24-31st July. 300
Armenian athletes from 15 countries competing in Basketball,
Volleyball and Swimming. 200 will dance and sing in a unique opening
and closing ceremony. Welcome to the home of the Olympic Games.
. Barkev Somakian Georgiou is representing
Cyprus in swimming.
~USTUDENTS CULTURAL FORUM July 21 – August 3 in Yerevan, Armenia.
Interested in taking part in a culturally, intellectually, and
socially stimulating program especially tailored for Armenian
university students? If so, come and discover the various facets of
our rich Armenian culture and heritage offered by The HAMAZKAYIN
STUDENTS CULTURAL FORUM. For more information and application forms
please contact Arto Tavitian [email protected] Hamazkayin
Oshakan Cyprus Chapter is happy to announce that this year there are
three participants to the Forum from Cyprus.
~UAKTI: Coasts Without Frontiers, Age group:18-25. Dates/Duration:
August 20-27. Location: Polis Chrysochous camp site. Contact: Kyriaki
Demetriou; Tel: 22 45848548454; Email: [email protected] A
multicultural environmental youth camp will bring together 30 Cypriot
youth between 18 and 25 years old, from Greek-Cypriot,
Turkish-Cypriot, Maronite and Armenian communities of Cyprus. The
project will focus! on coastal areas of Cyprus, both at the north and
the south, aiming at the protection and preservation of the Cyprus
coastal ecosystem by promoting knowledge-based society. The camp
will take place for a week in August and will feature environmental
workshops, facilitated discussions, field visits to the coast,
clean-up activities and a final poster production.
~UThree months left until the 72nd Annual AYF Olympics, expected to
draw thousands of Armenians from all over the world to Washington ,
DC September 1-5, 2005. In the three-day get-together a rich cultural
programme is scheduled as well. Nune Yesayan kicks off the weekend
with a barahantes. Also featuring Nersik Ispirian, the Michael
Gostanian Ensemble, the Aravod Ensemble. The All Stars will close the
weekend with John Berberian on the oud, Onnik Dinkjian’s Vocals,
Hachig Kazarian on clarinet, Roger Krikorian on the dumbeg and
vocals, and Ara Dinkjian on Keyboards. Rooms are filling up fast, so
make sure you book your room online. You can even buy your HyePass
and purchase your Ad Book ad .
~UAYMA/HMEM Chicco Football practices take place every Friday from
7:00 – 8:30 pm for children starting from the age of 7. Contact
Krikor Mahdessian on 99650897.
~UArmenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation via real
audio on . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus time
(14:00-15:00 GMT). Armenian news every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and
Tuesday.
~UThe Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the
Armenian Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is
on Sunday 24 July, 2005
~UEvery Wednesday from 7-8 pm (Cyprus time + 2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito,
Puzant Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues”. Internet
edition on

–Boundary_(ID_vCKoSnO/Hv8j9b2My3pung)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/18/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Putin, Erdogan Discuss Regional Stability from Caucasus to Cyprus
2) Cypriots Warn against Rapprochement between Unrecognized Northern Cyprus
and
Azerbaijan
3) Yerkir Media Recognized for Political Analysis, Freedom of Speech Efforts
4)Armenia’s Main Cellphone Network Paralyzed
5) Armenian Soccer Team in European Championships

1) Putin, Erdogan Discuss Regional Stability from Caucasus to Cyprus

SOCHI (RIA Novosti)–Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed stability in the Caucasus, the
situation in Iraq and Iran, and the Cyprus problem. “We focused on the
issue of
strengthening stability in the Caucasus and the Black Sea basin,” Putin said,
at a press conference in Sochi after talks with the Turkish Prime Minister.
Putin gave assurances that Russia would continue to help resolve the Cyprus
problem. “We are absolutely convinced that the UN Secretary General is moving
in the right direction,” he said.
Putin also said everyone knows how the situation is developing on Cyprus.
“First, we must resolve the problem of the economic isolation of a part of the
island, create conditions for normal relations between the two parts, and on
this basis fully normalize the situation in the interests of all people living
there,” he said.
“We will think about what can be done by Russia and the island’s two parts to
resolve these issues,” the Russian president said.
Putin and Erdogan said it was necessary to address the conflict over
Mountainous Karabagh.
“I was satisfied to hear the Russian position that it was time to start
settling the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict,” Erdogan said.
He added that he and Putin also discussed the situation in Iraq, Iran, and
anti-terrorism efforts.
“We expressed once again our resolve to fight international terrorists, who
are carrying out attacks against innocent people, defenseless women, and
children,” Erdogan said.

2) Cypriots Warn against Rapprochement between Unrecognized Northern Cyprus
and
Azerbaijan

ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)The government of Cyprus said that direct flight
between Nicosia and the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR)
would be
established if Azerbaijan does not abandon plans to forge tight relations with
Turkish Republic of Northern Republic (TRNC).
Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan said last month that Turkey was ready to
do everything possible “to help it [Northern Cyprus] surmount its
international
isolation,” saying a direct flight between Baku and the unrecognized republic
could be the first move.
A prive Azeri airline Imair announced last week it would begin regular
flights
to Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, becoming the first non-Turkish carrier to
fly direct to the internationally isolated enclave.
Last month Azerbaijan became the second state, after Turkey, to recognize
Turkish Cypriot passport.
Most of Azerbaijan’s eight million population are of Turkic origin, and the
country has very close cultural and political ties with Ankara.

Azeri Delegation in Turkish Cyprus
The first official delegation from Azerbaijan to visit the Turkish Northern
Cyprus arrived in Lefkosa over the weekend to take part in ceremonies marking
Peace and Freedom Day on July 20.
Erdogan said that the visit signifies de facto recognition of the Turkish
Cypriot state.
The eight-person delegation, six of whom are deputies of the Azeri
parliament,
were met by Turkish Cypriot officials at Ercan Airport.
The delegation will be holding discussions with TRNC officials, with a second
delegation scheduled to arrive soon that will be holding talks with Turkish
Cypriot businessmen. Trade issues are also listed to be discussed during a
visit by a third Azeri delegation between July 28 and 31.

3) Yerkir Media Recognized for Political Analysis, Freedom of Speech Efforts

Yerkir Media TV Company clenched two prizes on Monday, at an annual awards
ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Yerevan Press Club. Yerkir Media
was recognized for providing outstanding political analysis as well as its
efforts to promote freedom of speech.
The Yerevan Press Club is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, that
aims to create conditions to promote the development of free and responsible
media in Armenia.
Its Chairman Boris Navasardian stressed during the awards that though
Armenia’s mass media has made significant progress in the last decade,
self-censorship still remains a problem.
Navasardian went on to praise journalists for “their readiness to rally in
support of specific issues and fight for their rights.”
He said there still remains a great deal to accomplish in order to help
universities prepare journalists who meet western-style reporting and writing
standards.

4)Armenia’s Main Cellphone Network Paralyzed

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Armenia’s Greek-owned telecommunications monopoly claimed on
Monday to have so far failed to fully determine the cause of an almost
three-week mysterious paralysis of its wireless network which has left
hundreds
of thousands of mobile phone users fuming.
The Armenian government, meanwhile, appeared to be losing patience with
ArmenTel’s inability to remedy the situation quickly, with officials speaking
of “sanctions” that could be imposed on the deeply unpopular operator.
The network’s sudden collapse began on July 1, coinciding with the
long-awaited launch of Armenia’s second wireless system, VivaCell. ArmenTel
promptly flew in telecom engineers from Greece and Germany to inspect its
facilities but has still not provided a full and clear explanation for the
breakdown.
ArmenTel’s Thursday statement cited a “flurry of phone calls” which it said
followed a steep reduction of phone tariffs effective from July 1 and put the
network under greater strain. The statement urged the increasingly furious
subscribers to use their handsets more sparingly.
Critics say ArmenTel, which is owned by Greece’s OTE telecom giant, is paying
the price of its gross underinvestment in mobile telephony that has left
Armenia lagging behind neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia where the service
has
been more affordable and of higher quality.
The Armenian government demanded official explanations from ArmenTel earlier
this month and assured the public that everything is done to get the cellphone
back into shape. Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukian
announced on Thursday that the problem will be solved within days.
“It’s hard for me to speak about this,” Manukian said on Monday with a sigh.
“I am now in an awkward situation. I [wrongly] stated that the situation
improved and the crisis is coming to an end.”
The quality of mobile phone service provided by ArmenTel left much to be
desired even before the unprecedented network failure. It was the main reason
why the government decided to partly open the sector to competition last
year.
Exclusive rights to all forms of telecommunication were a key term of
ArmenTel’s 1998 sale to OTE, one of Europe’s largest telecom firms. Some
former
government officials who helped to negotiate the $200 million deal later
admitted that granting the Greeks the monopoly was a serious mistake.

5) Armenian Soccer Team in European Championships

IRELAND–Armenia lost 2-0 to Norway on Monday at the UEFA Under-19 European
Championships underway in Northern Ireland.
It is the first time Armenia is participating in the Semi-Finals of these
championships, and will play England on Wednesday.
Team coach Samvel Petrosian said that his team participation in the final of
the European Football Championship is a great honor and a new experience.
“It is a great football challenge for the small nation we are,” he said.
Group A matches resulted in a 4-2 win for Serbia & Montenegro over Germany,
while Northern Ireland lost 0-1 to Greece. In Group B, France and England drew
1-1. Armenia is playing in Group B.

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Analyst says Armenia expects civil stand-off in Azerbaijan

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 15 2005

Baku, July 14, AssA-Irada

Armenia expects not a ‘velvet revolution’ but civil stand-off during
the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan in November, said director
of the Political Innovation and Technology Center, political analyst
Mubariz Ahmadoghlu. He told a press conference on Thursday, referring
to a statement by a well-known Armenian analyst Andranik Migranian,
that this confrontation will divert Azerbaijan’s attention from the
Upper Garabagh conflict, which is favored by Armenians. This is due
to the positive tendencies for Azerbaijan observed in the conflict
resolution over the past month.

“This is a key reason for official Yerevan’s concerns”, said
Ahmadoghlu.”*