Author: Emil Lazarian

ALBAYRAK (PVDA) ERKENT GENOCIDE
Dagblad Tubantia/Twentsche Courant, Netherland
October 4, 2006
DEN HAAG (GPD) – Het Tweede Kamerlid Nebahat Albayrak (PvdA) erkent
dat in 1915 en 1916 in Turkije een volkerenmoord op Armeniers heeft
plaatsgevonden. Het is voor het eerst dat het van oorsprong Turkse
Kamerlid, nummer twee van de kandidatenlijst van de PvdA, dat zo
openlijk doet. Ze wil zo een einde maken aan de groeiende kritiek
dat zij geen duidelijk standpunt inneemt.
Zelf vindt ze dat ze niet onduidelijk is geweest. ‘Ik ben nooit van
het partijstandpunt afgeweken en dat is dat die volkerenmoord heeft
plaatsgehad.’
De kritiek op Albayrak begon na een interview in dagblad Trouw.
Daarin erkende ze dat er verschrikkelijke misdaden tegen de Armeniers
zijn gepleegd en dat vele honderdduizenden zijn omgekomen, maar ze
liet in het midden of sprake was van genocide dan wel uit de hand
gelopen gewelddadigheden. Albayrak zei geen oordeel over de toedracht
te kunnen hebben, omdat alle historische bronnen zijn ‘bevuild’.
Daarmee schaarde zij zich in de kringen van ontkenners, vindt Ton
Zwaan, onderzoeker nieuwe geschiedenis aan de Universiteit van
Amsterdam.
Met haar erkenning loopt de PvdA het risico dat vele kiezers van
Turkse afkomst afhaken.
De Armeense kwestie deed vorige week veel stof opwaaien bij PvdA en
CDA. Bij beide partijen stonden Turken op de kieslijst die de genocide
ontkennen. Zij zijn van de lijst gehaald.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BRIEVEN: MAG EEN TURK OOK EEN MENING GEVEN?; GENOCIDE
Brabants Dagblad, Netherland
September 30, 2006
De meeste in Nederland geboren of op heel jonge leeftijd naar
Nederland overgekomen Turkse kandidaat-Kamerleden worden onderdrukt
door hun partijen in de kwestie over de genocide op Armeniers. Ze
worden aangesproken op iets dat 91 jaar geleden zou plaats hebben
gevonden. De Armeense kwestie is niet erkend als genocide door
relevante internationale instanties als de Verenigde Naties. Ook
op academisch niveau bestaat geen communis opinio over de vraag
of dit een genocide mag worden genoemd. De Nederlandse hoogleraar
Erik Jan Zurcher is een van de vele academici die dit betwijfelt. De
politieke partijen proberen eigenlijk via deze kandidaat-Kamerleden
internationale politiek te bedrijven om Turkije buiten de Europese
Unie te houden.
De ChristenUnie bijvoorbeeld wil het ontkennen, bagatelliseren of
rechtvaardigen van de Armeense genocide strafbaar stellen. Hoe kan
dat als de noodzakelijke erkenning door een internationaal tribunaal
ontbreekt?
Politieke partijen spelen vieze spelletjes met door hun
kandidaat-Kamerleden te dwingen een keuze te maken tussen een
Kamerzetel of het vaderland. In feite zeggen deze partijen tegen de
bijna 400.000 Turken hier: ‘Jullie overgrootouders waren moordenaar’.
Dat is onacceptabel, oneerlijk, en dubbelhartig.
Dankzij deze houding van de partijen zijn enkele kandidaat-Kamerleden
van de lijst gehaald. Maar we hadden toch vrijheid van meningsuiting
in dit democratische land?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DOES RUSSIA NEED A STRONG ARMENIA?
RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 5 2006
MOSCOW, (Armen Darbinyan, rector of Russian-Armenian University and
member of the RIA Novosti Expert Council) – There is no doubt that
Armenia needs Russia to be strong. But does Russia need a strong
Armenia? This is not a rhetorical question.
It is believed that the countries of Commonwealth of Independent
States have been drawn into the zone of Russia’s influence as its
satellites. But if our goal is strategic partnership, Russia should
revise its relations with the former Soviet states, also because the
world offers us other options, including geostrategic ones.
The European Union and the United States are working hard to
demonstrate their possibilities to Armenia, trying to become a dominant
force there and in the whole of Caucasus.
Therefore, there are alternative forms of cooperation. But why start
from scratch when we have a long and positive history of spiritual
unity? Armenia is a multinational republic, but it is unique with
regard to Russia in that every Armenian is wholeheartedly devoted
to Russia. I have seen this attitude only in one other country,
Montenegro. However, this situation is not unchangeable, because both
sides have to work for strategic partnership.
It would be wrong to see Armenia as a political space and a zone of
Russian influence that will never look at other possibilities. A new
generation of young people in Armenia is now choosing what language
they should study to build a better life for themselves. And Armenian
businessmen are thinking with whom they can do better business.
Unfortunately, Russian-Armenian strategic partnership is mostly
limited to mutual visits by ministers and government officials that
usually take place in a friendly atmosphere. But maybe we have had
enough of them? Maybe we should encourage mutual visits by doctors,
teachers and young people?
I’m afraid the situation is almost the same in other former Soviet
countries.
Our sovereignty implies not only the freedom to choose, but also
the freedom to look for the real benefits of political or economic
integration. Armenia is not eager to join the common customs space
because it does not border on the EurAsEC countries, and becoming a
pro forma member, a name on the letterhead, would be unwise.
Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) has not benefited it either, especially in view of confrontation
with Azerbaijan in the disputed region, Nagorny Karabakh.
Armenia is a CSTO member, but Azerbaijan is not. However, Kazakhstan,
which is also a member of the CSTO, sometimes voted for anti-Armenian
and pro-Azerbaijani UN resolutions.
The CSTO in its present form may suit Asian states because they face
threats from Afghanistan and the risk of extremist attacks, and so
can benefit from collective security measures.
The Caucasus today is not a zone of common interests. With the
exception of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, there is no regional
cooperation to speak of. The Caucasian countries have different
perspectives of the future, and the main goal of their politicians
is to present their country in the best light in international
organizations. But we are expected to present common concepts and a
shared development vision. The international community is disappointed
every time our politicians put forth different approaches and clashing
interests.
No one needs Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan taken separately, because
each of them has a very small market and no transit capabilities. So
the Americans are right in saying that the Caucasus does not exist
as a political entity.
Russia has not indicated so far that it needs the South Caucasus as a
single whole. In my view, this is a losing stand for Russia, because
the regional countries may choose to drift towards an alternative
partner.
There are many reasons for the failure of the political project
called the CIS. At the same time, it offers a good chance to use the
humanitarian unity of our countries and nations. The new independent
states no longer see Russia as “the big brother”, although it should
definitely be the main player in this project.
We have been idling for too long, and we have probably lost a whole
generation that has not learned to speak Russian fluently. We must
not allow the area of the Russian language to be curtailed. We must
think seriously about finding proper employment for the graduates of
Russian-Armenian University, including such where they would have to
speak and write in Russian. We need strategic business projects that
Russian corporations would implement in our countries. The process
has begun, but we are not satisfied with its progress.
As soon as business starts speaking Russian, the demand for bright
and qualified specialists who know Russian will grow. It should be
more rewarding to learn Russian than English or French.
Thanks to Russian-Armenian University, many traditionally
Russian-speaking families and the Armenian intellectual class
have become convinced of the benefits offered by a Russian higher
education. The Armenian Diaspora in Russia is closely watching our
progress, and its members send their children here. They receive
Russian degrees and hence will be able to live and work in Russia
or Armenia, depending on their choice. This is expanding the area
of the Russian language, mentality and culture, and will eventually
strengthen Russian influence.
In my view, such important projects as the Year of Armenia in Russia or
of Russia in Armenia should be used to encourage long-term cultural,
humanitarian and research cooperation. It’s been a long time since
Armenian and Russian economists, sociologists and physicists worked on
a joint project. There is no information about achievements in Russia
or Armenia, without which no development is possible in professional
spheres.
The terms “competitive country” and “competitive society” are
fashionable in Russia now. How can one win in a competition?
Azerbaijan has a strong argument – oil. Armenia’s argument should be
the minds of its people. The younger generation needs a good education,
and Russian professors can help them receive it.
I am convinced that Russia needs a strong Armenia, which would be
able to do much for bilateral relations and play a significant role
in the region.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and
may not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI DEFENCE MINISTER, US MEDIATOR DISCUSS KARABAKH
Azeri press Agency
4 Oct 06
3 October, Baku: Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev received
the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, yesterday [2
October], a source at the Defence Ministry has told APA. Abiyev said
that the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks over the Karabakh settlement,
which have been continuing for many years, were fruitless. He said
that the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group yielded no positive
results so far. The defence minister said that the non-resolution
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was a major obstacle to the
development of strategic Azerbaijani-US relations and recalled that
Azerbaijani territories were occupied by Armenia.
“Yerevan should understand that the policy conducted by Armenia is
putting it on the edge of a precipice. Armenia is on the sidelines
from all regional economic projects. Azerbaijan is developing in
the economic sphere and increasing its military capacity. Armenia’s
destructive position, the occupation of our territories and the
presence of unregistered arms and ammunition in these territories
urge us to do this. We again state that Azerbaijan will not cede an
inch of its territories. The conflict should be resolved within the
framework of international laws and territorial integrity of the
states. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity by other
means if the peace talks yield no results,” Abiyev said.
Bryza said that Azerbaijan was ahead of Armenia in all spheres and
called on Azerbaijan to be patient. The co-chair informed the minister
about his activities and added that along with co-chairmanship in the
OSCE Minsk group, he was also involved in Europe’s energy security and
the development of US-Azerbaijani friendly relations. He said that
Azerbaijan was an important country to the USA and it supported the
USA in the fight against international terrorism. Bryza said that
the international community supported a solution to the conflict
through talks.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RANKINGS OF FOURTH-GRADERS’ SKILLS
Raleigh News & Observer
Scripps Howard News Service
October 04, 2006, Wednesday 12:13 PM EST
Few Americans know the rankings by their formal name, but most people
know that the math skills of children from the United States don’t
stack up well when compared with other countries.
The rankings are called TIMSS – Trends in International Mathematics
and Science Study, and they are published every four years out of
Boston College.
Rankings of fourth-graders’ skills in 2003, the most recent year
available, produced the following results:
1. Singapore
2. Hong Kong
3. Japan
4. Chinese Taipei
5. Belgium-Flemish
6. Netherlands
7. Latvia
8. Lithuania
9. Russian Federation
10. England
11. Hungary
12. United States
13. Cyprus
14. Republic of Moldova
15. Italy
16. Austria
17. New Zealand
18. Scotland
19. Slovenia
20. Armenia
21. Norway
22. Iran
23. Philippines
24. Morocco
25. Tunisia
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, )
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OH, BROTHER, WHAT A PAIR OF MUSICIANS
Fresno Bee (California)
September 29, 2006 Friday
FINAL EDITION
This piano recital is a family affair. Brother-and-sister team Gianeh
and Ovanes Arakelyan will perform 6 p.m. Sunday in the Concert Hall
at California State University, Fresno, in a concert that will include
works by Bach, Liszt, Khachaturian and Gershwin, among others.
The Arakelyans graduated from the University of Southern California
and won two gold medals at the 2004 World Championships of Performing
Arts in Hollywood performing Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance.” They have
performed in Carnegie Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the John
Anson Ford Amphitheatre and other prestigious venues.
The concert is sponsored by the Armenian Museum of Fresno. Details:
(559) 243-5880.

JAVAKHK WAITING FOR CHANGES BUT NOTHING HAPPENS
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The situation in Samtskhe Javakhetia is
quiet. However, those who leave Javakhk to earn money become
Russia citizens and never come back. People awaited problems with
bank transfers over the tension of the Russian-Georgian relations
but everything is all right. Everyone is waiting for changes, but
nothing happens,” editor of hos.am e-newspaper Armen Grigoryan told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the election to the local
self-government started October 5 but one can hardly make out the
situation.
Two parties – United National Movement and Industry Will Save
Georgia (opposition), -as well as candidates by majority lists run
in Akhalkalaki. “The opposition stands little chance for victory,
though it’s my personal opinion. The administrative pressure is
strongly felt,” Grigoryan said. “Though several servicemen from the
62nd military base were in Tbilisi at the period on the “espionage
scandal”, none of them was arrested,” he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ENDS VISIT TO GREECE
Armenpress
Oct 05 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense ministry said
minister Serzh Sarkisian and other senior army officers who were
visiting Greece, attended on October 3 the official opening ceremony
of the 14-th Defender International exhibition.
A spokesman for Armenian defense ministry, Seyran Shahsuvarian, said
Sarkisian visited the pavilion of the joint Armenian-Greek company
LT Pirakla, which is a subsidiary of Greek EBO-Pirakla company and
spoke to its chief executives.
On the same the Armenian delegation visited the Hellenic Land Force
Academy and met with Armenian cadets studying there. The delegation
also visited Greece’s National Military Museum. An arrangement was
reached to hold in it in 2007 an exhibition devoted to Armenian
armed forces.
On October 4 Serzh Sarkisian was received by his Greek counterpart
Evangelos Meimarakis. Both men discussed a wide scope of bilateral
relations and reached arrangements on expansion of bilateral
cooperation in military education and peace-keeping operations areas.
The Armenian minister was also welcomed by the Armenian embassy in
Athens and met with members of the Greek Armenian community. The
Armenian minister awarded Hrant Basmajian, chairman of the Union of
Friends of Armenia and Karabakh the Armenian military medal. At the
end of the visit Sarkisian met with local journalists for a news
conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG URGES AZERBAIJAN TO BE PATIENT
ARMINFO News Agency
October 4, 2006 Wednesday
During a meeting with Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev the US
co-chair of the OSCE MG Matthew Bryza urged Azerbaijan to be patient.
AzerTag reports Bryza to say that Azerbaijan surpasses in Armenia in
all spheres and to urge the country to wait a little bit more. Bryza
said that, besides being the OSCE MG co-chair, he is also responsible
for the resolution of other conflicts in the region, for energy
security in Europe and the development of friendly relations between
the US and Azerbaijan. He said that Azerbaijan is important for
the US and Washington highly appreciates the country’s political
and economic achievements. Bryza thanked the Azeri authorities for
active support in the US’ anti-terror activities. He said that the
international community wants the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
resolved through peace talks.
In his turn, Abiyev said that the talks are ineffective and that
the OSCE MG’s activities have not given positive results yet. He
said that the key obstacle to the further development of Azeri-US
strategic relations is the unsettled state of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Abiyev pointed out that “Armenia has occupied Azeri lands.
Azerbaijan will not yield a single inch of its land. The conflict
must be resolved in line with the international law and territorial
integrity principle. If the peace talks give no result, Azerbaijan
will restore its territorial integrity on its own.”
AzerTag does not specify if Bryza called for patience in response
to this phrase but gives the phrases exactly in this sequence, which
suggests a certain conclusion.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VYACHESLAV IVANKOV CLAIMS MINISTERIAL POST IN ARMENIA: ARMENIAN MP
ARMINFO News Agency
October 4, 2006 Wednesday
The well-known Russian criminal figure Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed
Yaponchik, has recently arrived in Armenia to realize his political
plans, Armenian parliamentarian Hmayak Hovhanissyan said in the
Armenian parliament, Wednesday.
He said V. Ivankov enjoyed a high level reception in the country,
which allows one to think that Yaponchik’s proposal was accepted.
That is, Ivankov intends to occupy a ministerial post after the
parliamentary elections in Armenia in the one of the ruling parties
known with its criminal authorities with various nicknames, the
parliamentarian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress