Author: Emil Lazarian

OSCE REACTS TO FRANCE’S ARMENIAN BILL
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 18 2006
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has
reacted to France, whose parliament adopted a bill on Thursday that
makes it a crime to deny that an Armenian genocide occurred in Turkey
during World War I.
In a warning to France, the OSCE explained that if the Armenian
bill became law, Paris would set a dangerous example for other OSCE
member countries.
In a written statement, the OSCE called on the French Senate to reject
the draft if it came before them.
OSCE Media Freedom representative Miklos Haraszti sent a letter to
the president of the French Senate, Christian Poncelet, and expressed
his concerns.
Haraszti asked French senators to reject the Armenian bill on the
grounds that adopting this law would cause serious concerns for
international standards of freedom of expression.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN AID WINS FRIENDS
By John Cheves – Herald-Leader Staff Writer
Kentucky.com, KY
Oct 18 2006
Senator’s generosity rewarded
Susan Walsh/Associated Press file photo U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell,
R-Ky., shown the 2000 Republican National Convention, is chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for foreign operations.
Online Chat | 1-2 p.m. today with series reporter John Cheves Coming
Friday | Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife Full coverage |
The McConnell Machine
WASHINGTON – One of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s “best friends and buddies”
— his words — is Albert Boyajian, a rich Los Angeles bakery magnate
who is a leader in the Armenian-American community.
What does a Kentucky Republican share with a West Coast ethnic leader?
Money.
Boyajian wants more U.S. aid for his home country in southwestern
Asia. He founded the Armenian-American Political Action Committee to
reward helpful politicians with campaign cash.
McConnell is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for
Foreign Operations. It meets once or twice a year and draws scant
attention. But it controls more than $20 billion in annual foreign
aid. And it brings McConnell hundreds of thousands of dollars from
people hoping to influence that aid.
Boyajian said he personally educated the senator about Armenia, flying
him there in 1996 for a tour and an interview with the president.
Their friendship has deepened as McConnell boosted U.S. aid to Armenia
up to $90 million a year, or as much as $25 million more than the
White House recommended, since the mid-1990s. He adds many millions
more for specific Armenian projects.
“No one in the last decade has done more for Armenians and Armenia
than Sen. McConnell,” said Boyajian, 66, his voice still thickly
accented after three decades in the United States.
Grateful, Boyajian said he hosts every Armenian-related fund-raiser
held in California for “my good friend Mitch.” (Armenian-Americans in
the Golden State alone have given McConnell about $125,000.) He gives
so much of his own money to Republicans, including McConnell — about
$50,000 since 1997 — that he was awarded the Republican Senatorial
Medal of Freedom by the GOP fund-raising machine McConnell chaired
for four years.
Some conservatives dislike the idea of foreign aid and all those U.S.
tax dollars flowing to other nations.
However, it’s a blessing for McConnell, a senator from landlocked
Kentucky, chiefly home to native-born Americans. Most of his ambitious
fund-raising now occurs outside his state, often in major coastal
cities where ethnic groups are far more politically active.
And he recognizes it. Speaking on the Senate floor 10 years ago,
McConnell told colleagues: “We have a lot of Jewish-Americans who are
interested in Israel, a lot of Armenian-Americans who are interested in
Armenia and a lot of Ukraine-Americans who are interested in Ukraine.”
“Boy, when we hear from them, we get real interested,” he said.
Over the years, McConnell has rejected budget recommendations from
Democratic and Republican presidents and State Departments in order
to give hundreds of millions of dollars in additional aid to those
three countries — Israel, Armenia and Ukraine — while their lobbying
groups donated heavily to him.
McConnell inherited his role as Armenia’s champion from Sen. Bob Dole,
R-Kan., who credited an Armenian doctor for saving his life after he
was wounded in World War II. Dole left the Senate to run for president
in 1996 as McConnell settled in as chairman of the foreign aid panel.
That’s how Yervant Demirjian, an Armenian-American banker, found
himself chatting with McConnell, a Kentucky politician, in Southern
California in 2004.
Boyajian, the bakery owner, organized an Armenian fund-raiser for
McConnell at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey, Calif., where the
senator mingled with donors. Those who gave him the most were told
they could accompany him on a chartered yacht cruise. McConnell pledged
continued U.S. aid for Armenia at generous levels and collected about
$35,000, federal election records indicate.
“If I can be candid, McConnell is a good friend of Armenia,” said
Demirjian, who gave $1,000.
“Because there are a lot of us living in California, he periodically
comes out here and thanks us for our support of him,” the businessman
said. “And what do we get in exchange for that support? Nothing more
than a stable supply of foreign aid.”
‘They like my views’
McConnell denied in a recent interview that campaign donations
influence his foreign-aid decisions. He said his career reflects an
interest in promoting freedom and opportunity abroad, from opposing
apartheid in South Africa to pushing for stronger Western relationships
with former Soviet states after the Cold War.
As for his ethnic donors, he said, “I assume they support myself and
others because they like my views.”
But a former State Department leader who worked with McConnell said
the senator’s fund-raising warps diplomacy. For instance, while the
State Department wanted to flexibly dispense aid to former Soviet
states, McConnell tapped Ukrainian-American donors and “earmarked”
— or mandated — $225 million a year for Ukraine.
“Earmarks restrict our ability to do our job,” said J. Brian Atwood,
who spent six years as President Clinton’s administrator of the U.S.
Agency for International Development.
“It makes domestic politics and donations more important than
foreign policy. Russia complained at one point that it was getting
less assistance than Ukraine, which is much smaller but had better
lobbying with folks like Sen. McConnell,” Atwood said.
Because there is a limited sum available for foreign aid — and
McConnell usually trims it — awarding more to one country means
depriving another country or regional program.
Extra aid for Armenia, for example, angers Azerbaijan, its neighboring
rival. Azerbaijan protested in the late 1990s that it received $12
per-capita in U.S. aid compared with Armenia’s $180.
Meanwhile, its territorial disputes with Armenia created more than
half a million refugees on its side of the border.
“Sen. Mitch McConnell … recently notified Secretary of State Warren
Christopher that he would block every attempt to send humanitarian
aid to Azerbaijan,” wrote Galib Mammad, an Azerbaijani diplomat to
the U.S., in a 1996 magazine essay.
“Curiously, McConnell went on record in 1992 as one of only four
members in Congress who voted to allow aid to Azerbaijan,” Mammad
wrote. “Now he has changed his mind, as 1996 is an election year, and
public records show that Armenian-Americans have already contributed
$22,850 to him between August and December 1995.”
McConnell has explained his dedication to Armenia — and, for that
matter, Ukraine — as wanting to establish strong, independent nations
along the Russian border, to curb expansionism. He recently denied
favoring rivals over each other.
“I’ve tried to be even-handed in the dispute between Armenia and the
Azeris,” he said. Early this year, he added, he met with Azerbaijan’s
president in his Senate office.
Yet McConnell openly bragged about skewing U.S. aid toward Armenia
two years ago while addressing the National Pan-Armenian Conference
in Washington.
“I’ll be trying to increase that amount. Armenia received $75
million last year, and that is considerably more than Azerbaijan, an
imbalance that I don’t apologize for,” McConnell told the audience,
which applauded, according to a transcript of the 2004 conference.
“And we will try to achieve such an imbalance again this year.”
True to his word, he earmarked $75 million for Armenia in the 2005
budget — $13 million more than Bush requested — and an additional
$9 million from other aid accounts, mostly military aid. That was
twice the sum he allocated for Azerbaijan, although Armenia has fewer
than half as many people, and less poverty. For the 2006 budget, he
earmarked $75 million in direct aid for Armenia — $20 million more
than Bush requested — plus an additional $6.5 million from other
aid accounts. Again, Azerbaijan received half that.
Capping funding
Sometimes McConnell’s donors want foreign aid to be cut, not increased.
In 1996, the African country of Zimbabwe announced it would nationalize
— seize control of — subsidiaries of foreign corporations on its
soil. This angered the American International Group, an insurance and
financial giant in New York, which owned one of the targeted companies.
So Edmund Lee, AIG’s executive director of international and corporate
affairs, huddled with McConnell’s committee staff. AIG wanted an
amendment to the foreign aid bill that would slash Zimbabwe’s share
unless it backed off.
The online magazine Salon.com published a copy of the follow-up
letter Lee wrote July 17, 1996, to Robin Cleveland, McConnell’s
staff director.
“Dear Robin,” Lee wrote, “I want to thank you again for taking time out
of your schedule to meet with us yesterday afternoon on an extremely
important issue to AIG.
“Attached for your review and consideration is draft language for the
amendment we discussed during our meeting,” Lee wrote. “It would cap
AID funding to Zimbabwe in fiscal year 1997 at $10 million, roughly
a 50 percent cut from 1996 expenditures, unless Zimbabwe waives the
localization requirement for U.S. insurance companies.”
The amendment proved unnecessary. Rather than forfeit aid, Zimbabwe
backed off.
McConnell recently said he remembers nothing about the episode. But
he referred to the threat in a Senate speech July 25, 1996.
“This committee was prepared to deal with a current trade dispute and
nationalization of foreign assets in Zimbabwe, but (it) has withdrawn
action relying on the good faith representations of Ambassador Midzi
of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” he said.
McConnell, running for re-election that year, took $2,000 from AIG’s
PAC within months of the episode and $2,000 more that fall. AIG also
gave $40,000 to the Republican Senate and House Dinner Committee,
to support GOP politicians like McConnell.
Cleveland, the former McConnell aide, now works at the World Bank in
Washington. She declined to comment. Lee remains with AIG as director
of corporate affairs, but he did not want to talk about his work with
McConnell’s committee.
“It was a long time ago,” Lee said.
$20 billion plus: Controlled by Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
for Foreign Operations, under McConnell
$75 million: Amount earmarked in direct aid for Armenia in 2006 budget
by McConnell
$20 million: Amount of aid for Armenia above that recommended by the
White House in 2006
$50,000: Donations Armenian-American Albert Boyajian has given
Republicans including McConnell since 1997
8.htm

ULP LEADER: INFLATION – NUMBER ONE PROBLEM FOR ARMENIA’S ECONOMY
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 18 2006
YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Inflation was the number one problem for
the economy of Armenia, on Tuesday leader of the United Labour Party
(ULP) Gurgen Arsenyan told journalists in Yerevan.
“Our party practically ignores weakening of USD, since the inflation
“eats up” much more funds of the population, than the notorious
“strengthening” of AMD”, he emphasized.
Arsenyan finds that lately inflation has been galloping in the
republic, which gets no adequate reaction of the government and
sturctures, responsible for this sphere.
He said that recently growth rate of the inflation has 2 times
increased, leaving behind the 3% limit, envisaged by the CBA.
“It should have been admitted long ago that the CBA is not capable
of controlling inflation in the country, taking into count the recent
rise in prices in Armenia”, he pointed out.
Arsenyan said that ULP had thrice 3 proposed a bill on measures
preventing the inflation in the RA parliament, which got no proper
feedback of the majority of MPs.
According to the data of the RA National Statistics Service, in
Inflation made 2,3% in September 2006, against December 2005. In
September 2006, the index of consumer prices made 105,9%, compared to
September 2005 in Armenia. As at January-September 2006, in Armenia
index of consumer prices made 102%, against January-September 2006.
According to the state budget, in Armenia inflation is envisaged at
3% level in 2006. Meantime by the end of September the RA government
approved a proposal on moving amendments to the Ra Law On the RA State
Budget for 2006, at that proposing the CBA to support the inflation
at 5% level (±1,5%) in December, as compared to similar period in
2005.
–Boundary_(ID_wOF85V2xmRe5Sy8/fO0kUg)–

FACING CLIMATE CHANGE: ACTION AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL
Council of Europe
Oct 18 2006
The Committee on Sustainable Development of the Council of Europe
Congress is organising a hearing to be held in Yerevan (Armenia)
on 19 October .to discuss innovative approaches carried out at local
and regional level in dealing with the challenges of climate change.
The hearing, which will take place in the Ani Plaza Hotel from 1.45
pm to 6.30 pm, will be opened by Armenian Ecology Minister Vardan
Aivazyan and the Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee
Gaye Doganoglu. Gotelind Alber, a specialist on climate policy, will
present the perspectives for the next 100 years and policies at the
international level.
The participants will examine a variety of stake-holders’ responses
to the challenges of climate change. They will examine innovative
approaches aimed at fostering a new energy culture, a mobility society
and sustainable urban planning. The case studies are based on the
policies in the cities of Pamplona (Spain), Oslo (Norway), Paris
(France) and Miskolc (Hungary), as well as the Lower Austria Region.
Communication Unit of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36 Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 27 51 [email protected]
Contact in Erevan : Marite Moras, Secretary of the Committee on
Sustainable Development Mobile: +33 (0)6 50 39 29 16 ; E-mail :
[email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
Press Release
ANC-PAC Endorses Texas Congressional Candidate Nick Lampson
Former Congressman seeks House seat once held by Tom Delay
October 18, 2006
HOUSTON, TX – The Armenian National Committee-Political Action
Committee (ANC-PAC) issued a statement today endorsing Nick Lampson’s
campaign to represent the 22nd Congressional District in Texas. The
22nd Congressional District is comprised of parts of four different
counties in Southeast Texas and includes the cities of Sugar Land,
Missouri City and Deer Park.
Lampson had served four terms in Congress, beginning in 1996,
before being voted out of office as a result of a redistricting plan
orchestrated by the, now indicted, former Congressman Tom Delay.
“We are pleased to be supporting Nick Lampson’s congressional
campaign,” commented Vatche Hovsepian, a representative of the ANC-PAC
in Texas. “Nick was a good friend of our community before he was the
victim of Tom Delay’s illegal redistricting scheme and we believe he
will go to Washington, DC to represent the hopes and dreams of his
Armenian American constituents. For this reason we are proud that
our many supporters, including members of the local Armenian Youth
Federation’s Dro Chapter, have and will continue to volunteer for
Nick’s campaign until election day,” he added.
The endorsement issued today represents a remarkable turnaround for
Armenian Americans in the 22nd Congressional District in Texas,
an area that for years has been represented by Tom Delay. Delay,
the disgraced former House Majority Leader, was one of the most
anti-Armenian Congressman in U.S. history. He repeatedly used his
high office to block votes on Armenian Genocide resolutions. Delay
was also closely aligned with former Congressman Bob Livingston,
who is registered as a foreign agent for the Republic of Turkey.
In January of 2004 Nick Lampson co-authored a letter to House Speaker
Dennis Hastert urging him to allow a vote on an Armenian Genocide
resolution (H.Res.193). H.Res. 193 was a resolution that sought to
have the United States officially recognize the Armenian Genocide
and mark the 15th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s signing
the 1987 Genocide Convention Implementation Act, also known as the
Proxmire Act. The bill was passed the House Judiciary Committee on
May 22, 2003, but was never considered by the full House because it
was blocked by current House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of
Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community.
The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice
of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation’s
capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian
Americans engagement on the public policy issues facing national
political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the White House.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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:
October 17, 2006
___________________
FEAST OF HOLY TRANSLATORS MARKED AT ST. VARTAN ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL
By Florence Avakian
Armenia’s great poetess Silva Gaboudigian, in a deeply profound poem to her
son, “Khosk Im Vortun” ends her missal with the words, “Wherever you are in
this world, my son, even if you forget your own mother, never forget your
mother tongue.”
As Nayad Manukian, a student in the Eastern Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum,
recited this moving passage, the audience hushed and several people began to
wipe away their tears. The reading was part of the program marking the
Feast of the Holy Translators on Saturday, October 14, 2006, in the Haik and
Alice Kavookjian Auditorium in New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex.
In keeping with Gaboudigian’s poetic commandment, the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) held its special annual service and
program to assure the next generation remains committed to learn the
Armenian language.
THE NEXT GENERATION
Hundreds of Armenian School students, teachers, parents, and parish faithful
attended the festivities dedicated to the lives and accomplishments of the
saints who founded the Armenian alphabet, translated the Bible into
Armenian, and started a movement of writing and translating important works
into Armenian.
Presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, the day began with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop
Yeghise Gizirian. The music was sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir
joined by the Khrimian Lyceum Junior Choir, under the direction of Khoren
Mekanejian and accompanied by organist Florence Avakian.
The service included pledges, which were read by the Armenian School
principals and the congregation. St. Vartan Cathedral Armenian School
student Krikor Torosian and St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ, Sunday School
student Hagop Hamparian read the scriptures.
In his inspiring sermon, the Primate expressed his happiness at seeing the
young students in attendance “to honor the important people in our history.
This is one of the most important days in our church”, he stated. “Because
of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, and their students, our church and people have
achieved great significance in Armenia. Their generation put the foundation
in our people. Because of them, we faced and conquered our difficulties.
And in this country we continue their legacy. Their spirit will stay with
us forever.”
Joining the Primate, Archbishop Gizirian, and Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of
the cathedral, were participating clergy, including Bishop Sion Adamian of
the Armavir Diocese in Armenia; Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of the St.
Nersess Armenian Seminary; Fr. Sooren Chinchinian, cathedral priest at St.
Vartan Cathedral; Fr. Karekin Kasparian, pastor of the St. Gregory the
Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY; and seminarians studying at St.
Nersess.
SING, SPEAK AND PRAY IN ARMENIAN
“St. Sahag wanted the Armenian people to become Christ’s students for
centuries,” the Primate remarked in his address to the students and
teachers. “Let us follow his message and remain true Armenians, not only
singing, and speaking Armenian, but also praying in Armenian. I pray that
you can mature with the spirit of the Translators.”
Following the church service, a cultural program took place in Haik and
Alice Kavookjian Auditorium, organized and directed by Gilda
Buchakjian-Kupelian, coordinator of Armenian studies for the Diocese. The
program opened with the singing of the beloved “Vork Zartaretsin” hymn by
Maro Partamian, accompanied on the piano by Khoren Mekanejian.
Khrimian Lyceum students Nayad Manoukian and Talin Vakillian skillfully
performed the duties of mistresses of ceremonies. Poems were recited by
Nayad Manoukian, Alex Calikyan, Adriana Demirjian, Anna Acopian,Alan
Dokmecioglu, Letisia Yandimoglu, Christine Shalian, Haig Agdere, Sareen
Jebejian, Shogher Talar Keshkinyan, Nicole Saglamer, and Lori Sanag. The
Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum is a six-year program of cultural, historic, arts,
and language classes for graduates of local parish Armenian School programs.
It is offered in both Boston and New York City.
Dressed in colorful ethnic Armenian costumes several students — Christina
Ani Haroutunian, Ani Esenyan, Melissa Gazal, Melissa Nazar, and Talin
Vakillian — delighted the audience with the dance “Boujour em” and the well
known Tamzara. Deanna Gulmezian played a spirited rendition of
“Vagharshabadi Bar” on the piano, which was followed by exuberant line
dancing by the various Armenian school students to the music of Berch
Manukian.
In his closing message, the Primate proclaimed the entire month of October
“Armenian Cultural Month.” The festivities concluded with the closing
prayer offered by Archbishop Gizirian.
The participating schools were the Khrimian Lyceum in New York City; the St.
Vartan Cathedral Armenian School of New York City; the Holy Martyrs Day and
Saturday School of Bayside, NY; the St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian
School of White Plains, NY; the Kirikian Armenian School from the St. Thomas
Church of Tenafly, NJ; and the St. Illuminator’s Armenian School of
Woodside, NY.
— 10/18/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Young students from the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum join
the St. Vartan Cathedral choir during the celebration of the Feast of the
Holy Translators on October 14, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Armenian School students line up to receive communion in
New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral during the Feast of the Holy
Translators celebration on October 14, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Nayad Manukian, a student in the Diocese’s Khrimian
Lyceum, recites the powerful poetry of Silva Gaboudigian during the program
in the Diocese’s Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium marking the Feast of
the Holy Translators.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Students from the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum perform
during the program celebrating the Armenian alphabet and language on October
14, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): The two mistresses of ceremonies, Nayad Manoukian and
Talin Vakillian, at the head table with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate, Archbishop Gizirian, Bishop Adamian, and Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian.
Photos by Berch Manukian
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
PART ICIPATION IN THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN
BEIRUT
The German Protestant Church in Beirut celebrated the 150th anniversary of
its founding on October 15 with an ecumenical service conducted by Bishop
Wolfgang Hubert, Chairman of the EKD Council.
Representatives from the Christian communities of Lebanon, the General
Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Lebanese Culture of
Minister and the Ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland attended the
service.
His Holiness Aram I delegated Bishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer
of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to attend the event on his behalf. Bishop
Alemezian also conveyed the Pontiff’s greetings to Reverends Frederike and
Uve Weltzin and the officials of the community.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH” (video)
A1+
[08:14 pm] 17 October, 2006
The songs of Varduhi Vardanyan will always sound for his relatives
and friends despite the car crash which put an end to her life. Those
who were present at her last concert in Martouni will always remember
her words, “I love you very much”.
Let us remind you that on October 15 on Sevan highway Varduhi
Vardanyan’s car got out of the road and turned over. As a result of
the accident the singer died on the spot.
We are representing you a part of the video of her last concert. In
order to watch it, press the button “video” (540 kb)
The video was given by TV Company “Zangak” of Martouni.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHEN YANG AND ZAVEN ANDRIASIAN WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
Chessbase News, Germany
Oct 17 2006
17.10.2006 Both are seventeen and have won the girls’ and the open
section of the World Under 20 World Championship that was held in
Yerevan, Armenia, from October 2nd to 17th 2006. Shen Yang was just
a couple of tiebreak points ahead of one of the greatest talents in
chess today, Hou Yifan, who is just twelve! Report and games.
Junior World Championships in Yerevan
For our younger readers: a “demo board” is a large wooden or vinyl
chessboard attached upright to the wall or supported by a stand. The
pieces attach to the board with magnets, or are cleverly inserted
into slits at the bottom of the squares. Sometimes, when the boards
are very large (as in the above pictures) rods are used to move the
pieces. The transmission of the moves from the game to the board is
done by non-electronic means – a human agent is used instead.
World Junior Championship top finishers The open section was won
by 17-year-old Armenian super-talent Zaven Andriasian, who last
year won the Boys’ Under 16 section of the Youth Championships in
Herceg Novi. Zaven started as the 29th seed in this event. Second was
19-year-old IM Nikita Vitiugov of Russia, who was the fourth highest
rated player in the tournament.
Photos & score table
id=3432
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OUR WEAPON IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Oktay Eksi
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 17 2006
Has France really surprised us, or has it shown us that the
“freedom-loving” France whose image we have carried for years in
our minds is not the real thing, replaced instead by this fanatic,
anti-freedom of expression, “one truth,” despotic country we now
face? It seems that we have seen the king naked for the first time.
And because of this, we are surprised.
France doesn’t see what an embarassment it is to tell people “If
you say that the Armenian genocide didn’t happen, you get 5 years
in prison and up to 45 Euro in fines.” What they are saying is,
“even if you know another truth, you may not express it.” What an
embarassment this is to civilization.
Look, we are not even saying “There was no slaughter of Armenians.”
We do not believe that there was, but we are not going to get into
this subject right now. We are right now just looking at this incident
from the perspective of freedom of expression, and maintaining from
this moment that this bill-if accepted, which it most likely will
be-will not only be a great shame for France, but for the entire EU.
And while on the subject of the EU, I would like to draw your
attention to words spoken this week by the EU’s Commissioner in
charge of Expansion, Olli Rehn: “If this French Parliament votes
to accept this bill, I fear it will create a very non-constructive
atmosphere.” Why, I ask, does Olli Rehn, who arrived in Turkey two
weeks ago demanding in no uncertain terms that Ankara remove article
301 from its penal code, water-down his words so blatantly when it
comes to France? Couldn’t he find it in himself somewhere to say
“This bill is completely opposed to freedom of expression”? Or is
the game played differently once a country is already inside the EU?
And by the way, where are the intellectuals who crow so often “Europe
is a union of culture and values”? Where is former President Giscard
d’Estaigne? Why aren’t the columns in Le Monde dealing with this
subject? France is showing that they are no longer of this age,
but have returned to being the French of the age of Inquisition,
the times when Galileo was forbade from saying that the Earth moved
around the Sun.
Don’t think that I am exaggerating. We are obliged to emerge successful
from this fight, which began with the slander about the “Armenian
genocide.” This is because if we don’t, the accusation will never
be removed from our official records. And what this means-as I wrote
yesterday in this space-is that we must direct our side of this fight
very well. As Taha Akyol wrote yesterday in his column, what makes
us strong in this fight is the “freedom of expression” weapon.
But Turkey must be careful, before telling others about the shame
of their infraction against freedom of expression, to clean up its
own shames. Firsy and foremost in this realm comes our very own
Turkish Penal Code, and its article 301, forbidding the “insulting
of Turkishness.”
In the end, as you can see, “freedom of expression” will be our
salvation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress