Author: Dabaghian Diana

IN IRAQ, CHRISTIANS SAY THEY ARE DWINDLING

Assyrian International News Agency

Jan 29 2008

Avak V. Asadourian, archbishop of the Armenian Church of Iraq, told
Ecumenical News International that Christians are fleeing Iraq.

Christians make up less than 3 percent of the country of 27.5 million.

Young people "are faced each day with death and destruction,"
Asadourian said. "They are faced each day with being kidnapped or
facing the agony of having a loved one who is kidnapped." In Mosul,
he said, a Syrian Orthodox priest was decapitated, apparently for
refusing to "adopt another religion," and a Chaldean priest and his
three assistants were shot dead.

Iraqi faith "is strong enough to face martyrdom," Asadourian said.

But, he added, unless something is done, "I am afraid that Christianity
will face a slow demise not only in Iraq but in the entire region
where Jesus Christ lived and worked."

Asadourian asked for churches in the West to intercede with their
governments about the plight of Iraqis. He said the four years since
the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq were "the most difficult by far" of
his 28-year ministry in Iraq.

Similarly, Canon Andrew White, an Anglican priest in Baghdad,
told a CBS-TV crew for 60 Minutes that "things [in Iraq] are the
most difficult they have ever been for Christians, probably ever
in history."

White told reporter Scott Pelley that after being targeted by
Islamic extremists, the majority of Iraqi Christians have fled or
been killed. Many bodies have never been found, White said, calling
the killings an example of "religion gone wrong."

Baghdad neighborhoods that were once Christian strongholds are now
virtually empty of Christians, according to the CBS report.

White said all of his parish leadership were "taken and killed. … I
regularly do funerals here, but it’s not easy to get the bodies."

According to the Middle East Council of Churches, an ELCA partner, such
experiences aren’t unusual. The MECC General Assembly said on Nov. 30,
2007, that its members report that Iraqi Christians "are forced to
emigrate, their churches are assaulted and their clergy are killed."

To help, the World Council of Churches (the Lutheran World Federation
is a member) launched "Accompanying Churches in Situations of
Conflict," an initiative of intervention through local congregations,
Christian and interreligious dialogues, regional cooperation and
interreligious advocacy. According to a September 2007 statement
from the WCC Executive Committee, "more than half of Iraqis live in
abject poverty," and one in six "is internally uprooted or among the 2
million people who have fled the country." Forty percent of refugees
are Christian, said the WCC statement, "a sign of the failure of
policies that were purported to bring stability and peace to Iraq
and even the region."

The New ANatolian, Turkey
Jan 28 2008

Armenian, Greek and Hebrew departments for Turkish university

The New Anatolian / Ankara
28 January 2008

Nevsehir University is preparing to open new departments on Armenian,
Greek and Hebrew languages.

The Dean of Faculty of Science and Letters at Nevsehir University
Prof. Dr. Metin Hulagu says the university will be the first one in
Turkey to open departments on the three languages.

"We want to open new departments on the three languages to promote
Turkey’s relations with Armenia, Greece and Israel. There is
presently a lack of Turks speaking these languages fluently," Dr.
Hulagu said.

Nevsehir University is awaiting for a permission from the Turkish
Higher Board of Education (YOK) in order to officially open the
language departments.

Nevsehir University was established on May 17th, 2007. The campus is
located in the central Anatolian province of Nevsehir.

Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 25, 2008 Friday 5:11 PM MSK

Jury repeatedly acquits man charged with hate crime in Moscow region

MOSCOW Jan 25

A jury at the Moscow Region Court acquitted for the second time a
defendant charged with the murder of Artur Sardarian, 19, an ethnic
Armenian, in the Moscow region.

Nine out of the 12 jurors found a 17-year-old Muscovite not guilty,
while three found him guilty.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 27 2008

To fight with gangs needs to fight with our genes

by AYSE KARABAT

Since the police detained more than 30 people recently on suspicions
that they are members of a shadowy clandestine network that seeks to
create a chaotic atmosphere in Turkey to prepare for a military coup,
millions of questions have been flying in the air.

First of all, we should keep in mind that these people have not been
brought in front of a court yet. But maybe since we are so sure about
the fact that these kinds of gangs have been a part of our political
culture for years, almost everybody is convinced that they are
involved with the Hrant Dink assassination, the slayings of
missionaries in Malatya and the Daniþtay attack. But the first
question that keeps everyone busy is not whether they are guilty or
not, but if there is enough evidence.

The second question is the nature of the investigation. Is this an
investigation against the "deep state" or is it an operation aiming
at some elements of the deep state. Because when you look at the
names of those under detention, the first thing you should notice is
that they were so public. They were everywhere, they were making
provocations against intellectuals, they were blaming everyone who
was not with them, accusing almost everyone of being traitors. Maybe
for this reason they came to the point of being unbearable for the
real "deep state."

Another important question is to what extent this operation will go.
For example, if they were aiming at a military coup, who would carry
out this coup?

Everybody is also discussing whether the government will be brave
enough to follow through to the end. Finally, will we be able to live
in a country that is free of these kinds of gangs?

The pessimists are saying that the government, which is dragging its
feet on dealing with Article 301, may not go any further. The
optimists are recalling the victory speech Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoðan made right after the July 22 elections. In this speech
he promised to fight against such gangs.

All these questions and discussion points are right. But there are
more questions to be asked. For example, will society show its
reactions to these gangs and give the courage to the judiciary and
security forces to go through to the end? Will society send the
message of "enough" to those who are protecting these gangs?

What allows these gangs to survive is the understanding of their
relation to the order of things in Turkey: The superiority of the law
can be put aside, when it is necessary. A part of society is agreeing
with this, too, because our sense of justice was harmed a long time
ago. In general, we don’t believe that our judiciary is functioning
well. This is why instead of applying to the court when we have a
problem, we prefer to solve it for ourselves. This is one of the main
reasons that we have these gangs. Will society able to change this
attitude and will we really be able to believe that everyone without
any exception recognizes the superiority of the law?

Will the society change its mentality about the state? Will the
society be brave enough to think that the state is just an entity
composed of citizens — citizens who are not only subjects but also
individuals with rights? Once society accepts this fact, will it
question the persons who are claiming that they are representing the
state?

Strong belief — or, to put it more correctly, strong perception of
some state officials who think that they are above society — is one
of the main reasons for the existence of these gangs. Since some
believe in this, the natural outcome is that citizens are not
valuable and the law is something forgettable because ordinary
citizens don’t understand the state’s affairs and don’t have the
ability to understand the high interests of the state. Will society,
citizens who are totally aware of their rights, force a change in
this understanding? Will society be brave enough to face up to its
history and its understanding of negative nationalism, which creates
countless ‘others’ as enemies?

These understandings have engrained themselves in society through the
education system and became almost a part of our genes. Will we be
brave enough to fight against our genes?

To get rid of these gangs, the right question is not if the
government will be brave enough to go through to the end, but if the
society will be brave enough to go through to the end.

Because, as Edmond Burke puts it, "The only thing necessary for the
triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

27.01.2008
AYSE KARABAT

PhilBoxing.com, The Philippines
Jan 27 2008

DARCHINYAN PUBLIC WORKOUT ON JAN 30

PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Jan 2008

CEBU CITY — Cebuano boxing fans will finally witness `The Raging
Bull’ in person as the reigning IBO super flyweight king Vic
Darchinyan is slated to hold a public workout at the ALA Boxing Gym
in the Banilad Town Center on Jan 28, Wednesday.

Darchinyan is a dominant figure in the IBF flyweight division as his
kingship spanned four straight years from 2004 through 2007, annexing
the IBO title with his 8-round knockout of Mzukisi Sikali of Japan on
Mar 27, 2005. He rampaged both divisions with 28 wins and zero
defeats until Filipino firepower Nonito Donaire Jr. snatched both
crowns in a 5th round stoppage in July last year. The taste of defeat
so hit him badly he went back into his game with a conquest of the
vacant IBO super flyweight title three months later.

Darchinyan (29-1-0, KOs 23) began boxing at age eight in Vanadzor,
the third largest city in Armenia where boxing was very popular. He
was Age Champion in the Armenia Junior Amateur Boxing circuit in the
108 lbs class for five years straight. He left Armenia in 1994 to
pursue an amateur boxing career and started training in Sochi, a
sprawling city just north of the southern Russian border. He
represented Russia in over 10 tournaments before he joined the
Ukraine team in 1996.

In 1997, he was invited back by Armenia to represent it in amateur
world boxing tournaments, defeating reigning warriors from Hungary
and Australia. He was honored by the Armenian government as the top 3
sports hero, and was honored as one of Armenia’s `Sporting Masters in
Boxing.’

He debuted as a boxing pro in 2000 by outpointing Sande Kizito of
Uganda. His second professional fight was also a point game. But his
heavy fists started to take control in his third pro tournament where
he stopped Filipino pugilist Selvio Glinoco in the 2nd round in 2001,
a feat that ignited a long string of knockouts in his boxing career.

In the same year, Darchinyan took over the vacant Australian
flyweight title with a stoppage in the 7th round. He rose to take the
IBF Pan Pacific flyweight crown in August 2002, and defended the turf
three times before he conquered the IBF flyweight division. He
unified the IBO and IBF super flyweight titles in 2005.

The resurgence of his bullish campaign hit the IBO super flyweight,
frustrating Filipino ringster Federico Catubay with a knockout in the
12th round. Darchinyan arrived in the Mactan shore on Jan 26 in order
to remove the only Filipino standing on his way to again unify the
IBO and IBF super flyweight mantles – Z `The Dream’ Gorres, a technical
craftsman who will stop at nothing to put an end to Darchinyan’s bid
for the IBF super flyweight title.

The eliminator tourney, dubbed as `Now or Never,’ will hit the ring
on Feb 2 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug at
6:00 PM. This year opening battle of epic proportion is brought to
you by Solar Sports in cooperation with ALA Promotions, Gary Shaw
Promotions, and the Cebu City Government, and sponsored by Waterfront
Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Y101, and Kia Motors-Cebu.

The Darchinyan workout is expected to be more bag works and photo
sessions. No sparring has been scheduled. A private workout will
follow on Feb 29 at the ALA Gym Talamban.

"RUBEZH-2008" DISCUSSED DURING A YEREVAN MEETING

A1+
25 January, 2008

According to the programme of preparation of the "Rubezh 2008"
military exercises and the joint operative and military preparation
programme for 2008 of the member states of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), January 22-25 the working group of the
Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization headed by
Major-General Sergey Zuvakin visited Armenia.

The schedule of the "Rubezh 2008" was developed during the working
consultations in Yerevan An agreement on creating an information
centre of the military exercises was reached.

Members of the working group of the Joint Staff of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization were received by the Deputy Chief of
the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel
Artak Davtian. Issues of preparation of the joint military exercises
were discussed.

HILLARY CLINTON PLEDGES TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE AS PRESIDENT

armradio.am
25.01.2008 10:10

Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, in a forceful
statement shared with the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA), called for Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution and pledged that, as President, she will recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

"Armenian Americans from across the United States welcome Hillary
Clinton’s strong support for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, and her pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide as
President of the United States," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Hillary Clinton’s statement, which reflects her consistent
track record of support in public office, speaks powerfully to our
community’s deeply held concerns regarding the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, the expansion of the U.S.-Armenia relationship,
and a fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict."

As a Senator, Hillary Clinton has, since 2002, has cosponsored
successive Armenian Genocide resolutions. She joined Senate colleagues
in cosigning letters to President Bush in 2005 and 2006 urging him
to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

"Alone among the Presidential candidates, I have been a longstanding
supporter of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. I have been a
co-sponsor of the Resolution since 2002, and I support adoption of
this legislation by both Houses of Congress.

I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire
against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide. I have twice
written to President Bush calling on him to refer to the Armenian
Genocide in his annual commemorative statement and, as President,
I will recognize the Armenian Genocide. Our common morality and our
nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to
ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by
the Congress and the President of the United States.

If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything
it is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face in
order to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen again. It
is not just about the past, but about our future. We must close the
gap between words and deeds to prevent mass atrocities. That is why
I am a supporter of the Responsibility to Protect. As President,
I will work to build and enhance U.S. and international capacity
to act early and effectively to prevent mass atrocities. The Bush
administration’s words of condemnation have not been backed with
leadership to stop the genocide in Darfur. I support a no-fly-zone over
Darfur. I have championed strong international action to ensure that
the government of Sudan can no longer act with impunity, or interfere
with the international peacekeeping force, which is essential for
the protection of the people of Darfur.

I value my friendship with our nation’s vibrant Armenian-American
community. This is in keeping with my dedication to the causes of
the Armenian-American community over many years. I was privileged
as First Lady to speak at the first-ever White House gathering in
1994 for leaders from Armenia and the Armenian-American community to
celebrate the historic occasion of Armenia’s reborn independence. I
said at the time that America will stand with you as you realize what
the great Armenian poet, Puzant Granian, called the Armenian’s dream
"to be left in peace in his mountains, to build, to dream, to create."

I will, as President, work to expand and improve U.S.-Armenia
relations in addressing the common issues facing our two nations:
increasing trade, fostering closer economic ties, fighting terrorism,
strengthening democratic institutions, pursuing our military
partnership and deepening cooperation with NATO, and cooperating on
regional concerns, among them a fair and democratic resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. As President, I will expand U.S. assistance
programs to Armenia and to the people of Nagorno-Karabagh.

I look forward, as President, to continuing to work with the
Armenian-American community on the many domestic and international
challenges we face together, and to build on the strong foundations
of shared values that have long brought together the American and
Armenian peoples," Mrs. Clinton stated.

HOVANNISIAN CEDES ELECTION COMMISSION SEATS TO OPPOSITION CANDIDATES
By Anna Saghabalian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 25 2008

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian has confirmed through aides his
decision to cede hundreds of seats in election commissions reserved for
his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party to allies of opposition presidential
candidates Levon Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian.

Under Armenia’s Election Code, President Robert Kocharian and the five
parties represented in parliament, including Zharangutyun, each appoint
one member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and its more than
1,920 district and precinct-level divisions. Two other commission seats
are controlled by a government body overseeing the Armenian judiciary.

The code also stipulates that only those individuals who attend
special courses organized by the CEC can become commission members.

Zharangutyun says that only about 1,000 of its members and supporters
have obtained licenses required for sitting on the bodies that will
conduct the February 19 presidential election.

The party, which joined the National Assembly last summer, says it has
lacked time to have more election workers trained by the CEC. It has
offered other opposition parties, which have held commission seats
in the past, to fill the vacancies.

Zharangutyun representatives said late Thursday that three of those
parties have already submitted the names of their members with CEC
licenses. According to Hovsep Khurshudian, the Zharangutyun spokesman,
92 of them are affiliated with Manukian’s National Democratic Union
(AZhM). He said the People’s and Hanrapetutyun parties supporting
Ter-Petrosian are ready to appoint many more commission members but
did not give any numbers.

"We will cover the entire territory of the republic with our joint
efforts," said Zaruhi Postanjian, a Zharangutyun parliamentarian.

"That is, licensed members representing us and those two forces will
be appointed to all commissions."

Smbat Ayvazian, a senior Hanrapetutyun member, told RFE/RL that the
Ter-Petrosian camp is ready to nominate as many commission members
as necessary. "Numerous citizens with necessary licenses are applying
to us, but we select only our party comrades," he said.

Despite sharing its commission quota with other opposition forces,
Hovannisian has indicated that he will not endorse any of the
opposition contenders before the first round of voting. Khurshudian
reiterated that Zharangutyun will likely throw its weight behind
one of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s challengers only before a
possible run-off.

In Khurshudian’s words, Zharangutyun believes no presidential
candidate, including Sarkisian, is popular enough to score a
first-round victory. "If that happens, it will be obvious to us that
the elections were rigged," he said.

CONSUMERS’ COMPLAIN

Panorama.am
20:28 25/01/2008

A. Eghoyan, the president of "Consumers’ rights protection" said the
organization particularly gets complains and alarms on bad supply of
gas and electricity.

According to him they also got complaints on provisions sold and not
accepted back by the shop assistants.

The prices were increased after the New Year and still they did not
recover, so this is another reason of complain.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF O.C. PACKS IN THE STARS FOR ITS 2008-09 SEASON
By Timothy Mangan

Orange County Register
Jan 24 2008
CA

The classical music presenter nabs acclaimed young conductor Gustavo
Dudamel for his Orange County debut.

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s 2008-09 concert season,
unveiled this week, will feature appearances by several of classical
music’s biggest names as well as a healthy sampling of its rising
talent. The nonprofit Society, the county’s oldest presenter of
classical music, now in its 55th season, imports touring orchestras,
chamber ensembles and soloists from around the world to perform in
the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and other local venues.

Firebrand Chinese pianist Lang Lang will give his first Orange County
recital to open the Society’s season on Oct. 1. His program has yet
to be announced.

The most talked about (as well as the most gushed about) man in
classical music, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, will make his Orange
County debut under the Society’s auspices, on Nov. 23. The Venezuelan
Dudamel, soon to be 27, is the music director-designate of the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, set to take the reins from Esa-Pekka Salonen
at the start of the 2009-2010 season. He’ll lead the touring Israel
Philharmonic in a program that includes Mendelssohn’s "Italian"
Symphony and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony here.

Elsewhere in its signature orchestra series, the Society will present
French conductor Stephane Deneve and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
(Jan. 23, 2009); conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco
Symphony (Jan. 28, 2009); and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,
with leader and violinist Julia Fischer, Gramophone magazine’s Artist
of the Year (May 2, 2009).

Conductor Valery Gergiev returns to Orange County for the first time
since the hall’s opening celebrations in 2006 to lead the London
Symphony Orchestra (for which he serves as music director) in two
programs on March 18 and 19, 2009.

Also appearing will be Operalia competition winner soprano Isabel
Bayrakdarian and the Armenian Chamer Ensemble (Oct. 5); jazz
saxophonist Branford Marsalis leading the Philharmonic Brasilianos
(Oct. 11); conductor Bernard Labadie and the period-instrument Les
Violons du Roy (Feb. 20, 2009); and conductor Derek Gleeson and the
Dublin Philharmonic performing a special St. Patrick’s Day program
(March 17, 2009).

The Orange County-based Pacific Chorale and the Los Angeles-based
period ensemble Musica Angelica join forces to perform Bach’s "St.

John Passion" (April 10, 2009) to round out the Society’s orchestra
series.

In addition to Lang Lang, recitalists include the bubbly Italian
mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli (Feb. 17, 2009) and the distinguished
American pianist Richard Goode (April 29, 2009, at Irvine Barclay
Theatre).

The Society will also present three chamber concerts in the
Orange County Performing Artscenter’s Samueli Theater, with the
Musicians from Marlboro, the Curtis Institute on Tour and the
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio making appearances. The Brentano
String Quartet, with guest pianist Peter Serkin, will offer a
performance of a new piano quintet by Charles Wuorinen at the Irvine
Barclay Theatre as well.

Three special presentations have crossover appeal: the West African
Festival (Nov. 20), the annual Fiesta Navidad with the Mariachi Los
Camperos de Nati Cano (Nov. 29); and The 5 Browns, a team of sibling
pianists (March 2, 2009).

The Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom Select Series continues for its
second season (the Israel Philharmonic, the first London Symphony
concert, Bartoli and Lang Lang are part of it).

Subscription packages start at $121 and range up to $3,160 (for
"The Works" series). For more information and season brochures, call
949-553-2422 or visit Single tickets
are expected to go on sale in early summer.