Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN COMMUNIST PARTY TO GO TO NA ELECTIONS ALONE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Communist Party of Armenia will
participate in the 2007 parliamentary elections alone, without making
an alliance with any political party. Ruben Tovmasian, the First
Secretary of the CPA Central Committee stated about it at the August
24 press conference. According to him, the party seriously analyzed
reasons of its fail in the 2003 elections and came to the conclusion
that it must participate in the coming elections exclusively by own
forces. “Those people, thouse groups which were able to tempt the
Communist Party in 2003 to protect them, we have nothing more to do
with those forces,” the CPA leader stated. R.Tovmasian stated that the
Communist Party has no hopes connected with any foreign force, whereas
90% of Armenian parties sets hopes on implementing in Armenia one of
variants of the colored revolutions worked out in the U.S. According
to R.Tovmasian, “the U.S. and Council of Europe have always cheated
and today cheat the Armenian people.”
Answering the question concerning stopping examination on Armenian
student Vigen Abrahamiants’ murder in Moscow, on April 22 of the
current year, the speaker mentioned that he condemns any crimes,
including ones committed on the basis of chauvinism. But, at the
same time, one may not ascribe displays of chauvinism, in general,
to the Russian people. In his words, during those recent 15 years,
a new, Fascism youth organization grew in Russia, and the reason
is that “in our days states are not engaged in issues of bringing
up of the youth.” Touching upon the competition on the new RA hymn,
R.Tovmasian stated that the CPA and he himself supports the variant
of the hymn with Aram Khachatrian’s music, but not protest against
changing Sarmen’s words.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: TALKS ABOUT POSSIBLE RETURN OF LIBERATED
TERRITORIES INSULTING
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 25, 2006
YEREVAN, August 25. /ARKA/. Talks about possible return of liberated
territories to Azerbaijan are insulting, stated the political scientist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan.
According to him, inadmissible is the justification of return of
these territories by the fact that Armenians have not resided there
for the last few decades.
“This means giving up the Armenian people’s territorial claims,
including the ones involving western Armenia, as a bad job, because
Armenians have not resided there for the last few decades either,”
he said. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh expert: “Azeri propaganda got a backlash from the world community”
Regnum, Russia
Aug. 25, 2006
A few days ago Azerbaijan told the UN, the OSCE and the CE that it is
ready to take part in the extinguishing of the fires over the Nagorno
Karabakh-controlled territories. Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov said
that involved in the operation might be the Azeri ecology and natural
resource and emergency ministries and international organizations.
How can one explain such a strange position? Until now the Azeri
authorities have objected pointblank to any joint activity with
Nagorno Karabakh.
“There is only one explanation to such a strange behavior – this is
required by the international community, who is gradually realizing
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved unless an
atmosphere of confidence is created between the conflicting sides,
first of all, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, in the
last months Azerbaijan’s information policy on Nagorno-Karabakh and
the Armenian people, as a whole, has been extremely aggressive and
chauvinist, despite the mediators’ assurances that there will be
a breakthrough in the peace process this year. It is obvious that
Azerbaijan’s aggressiveness not just prevents any confidence building
but simply undermines the efforts of the international community,
especially, of the OSCE MG co-chairs,” Karabakh political scientist
David Babayan says in a talk with REGNUM.
He says that the fires Baku is so much talking about were not caused
by Karabakh, but by a strong drought – the strongest in the last five
years. “There are no cultural monuments over those territories.
However, the logic of the Azeri propaganda machines is simple: the
more outrageous the lie is, the quicker people believe it. However,
nobody believed this lie. One proof is the report on the fires by
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk, who said that the fires were caused by unprecedented heat.
Azerbaijan’s reaction was quite rigid and even unethical. Some
apologies for patriots from top authorities began insulting Mr.
Kasprzyk. Here, I would like to rephrase the well-known proverb:
truth not only hurts but also maddens,” says Babayan.
This notwithstanding, the Azeri propaganda has not only failed to
mislead the international community but has also received a very
negative reaction from it. “The international community refrained from
arguing with Azerbaijan, but advised it to start a joint program to
extinguish the fires – quite a painful decision for Azerbaijan.
That was an effective blow on Azerbaijan, who is now in quite a
delicate situation. The Azeri authorities will now have to tell
their people that they have to contact with ‘the separatists’ who
‘are destroying’ their cultural legacy,” says Babayan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Iraqi Special Tribunal: A lack of objectivity concerns the victim nation
Kurdish Media, UK
Aug. 25, 2006
8/25/2006 KurdishMedia.com – By Shakhawan Shorsh
Putting Saddam Hussein and other perpetrators on trial for genocide
and crimes against humanity is certainly a positive step toward the
prevention of future similar atrocities. This is also a relief for
the victims. If the Anfal campaign is recognized as genocide, it
would no doubt have moral and political importance for the Kurds.
However, this does not prevent anyone from revealing the negative
elements of the tribunal.
The Iraqi Special Tribunal is a national tribunal that conforms with
Iraqi laws from 1958, 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1979. The tribunal also
includes international laws concerning genocide, crimes against
humanity, and war crimes. The establishment of the tribunal was
mainly carried out by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), led
by the United States. There has been harsh criticism about the
legality of the tribunal; however, this article will focus only on
the legitimacy of the tribunal in connection with the Kurds as the
victim nation.
The Americans and their Iraqi allies established the tribunal without
asking for the opinion or for the support of the Kurdish nation.
Kurdish leaders may have been powerless in terms of the establishment
of an Arab-dominated Iraqi tribunal, but Kurdish leaders did not
provide any explanation on this issue either. They did not explain to
the Kurdish nation the reason that an Arab-dominated Iraqi tribunal
was better than an impartial international tribunal. Even with the
argument that the Kurdish issue is an internal Iraqi issue, the Kurds
deserve a neutral international tribunal, such as the ICTY in the
former Yugoslavia. The Jewish people did not have national territory
problems, so the Nuremberg tribunal was not German, nor did it have
German judges.
The first few days of the trial for the Anfal genocide showed Kurdish
witnesses appearing in court, surrounded by Arab judges, Arab
defenders, and Arab accusers. The Iraqi constitution regards Arabic
and Kurdish as equal official languages, but the language of this
sensitive tribunal is Arabic. For Kurds, Arabic is the language of
oppression, of the Anfal genocide, of Arabization, and of ethnic
cleansing. The Kurdish language and people are again undermined by
the language of the oppressor. And still, all of the legal statements
in this trial are in Arabic. Many of the victims are villagers and do
not understand what is being said or what is going on. Unfortunately,
the translator has difficulties in translating what the victims are
trying to say. This is a clear deficiency in the trial and may
influence the final result.
There are a few judges that are Kurdish only by identity; they must
speak in Arabic and behave like other Iraqi judges. Nobody can see
any difference between them and the Arab judges. We have seen this
before in the Dujail case, led by a Kurdish judge, and now the Anfal
genocide trial is led by Arabs. In this way, the tribunal is
attempting to demonstrate its impartiality between the different
ethnic and national groups. The setup of this tribunal is also meant
to demonstrate harmony between the Iraqi ethnic groups, as the
“democratization” process proclaims.
First of all, neither the Arab judges nor the Kurdish judges can be
impartial about past cases of ethnic conflict. An Arab judge cannot
be impartial toward the Kurds, as the case is related to the Kurdish
genocide committed by Arabs. The daily violence and killings between
the ethnic groups shows the extent of the division of Iraqi society.
The judges belong to their ethnic communities; therefore, with the
lack of capacity in court, the chaotic political atmosphere, and the
nature of the long-term conflict, they can hardly escape their ethnic
backgrounds and political beliefs. Second, the participation of a few
Kurdish judges was very likely decided in order to encourage the
support of Kurdish leaders. The interests of an oppressed people were
ignored here. Furthermore, this Iraqi tribunal is undermining the
Kurdish issue, which is a struggle toward self-determination. A trial
concerning the Anfal case led by Kurdish judges would be criticized
for favouritism, as the judges would belong to the victimized group.
This is understandable. The point is that Arabs should not be
involved in a trial involving their own victimized group. The Arab
judges, in this case, belong to the oppressors’ ethnic group; they
cannot be morally or legally neutral. Actually, the few Kurdish
judges do not make any measurable difference.
Nevertheless, the small Dujail case is not comparable with a case
like the Anfal genocide. Not all mass killings have the same
characteristics. The killing of the Shiites did not have the same
political motive as the Kurdish mass killings. Therefore, it is
possibly acceptable for Arabs to put other Arab perpetrators on
trial, but the situation is not the same for the Kurds. Mass killing
of the Kurds was motivated by eliminating a non-Arab national group,
while the killing of Arab groups was not occurred due to dissimilar
nationality.
This tribunal makes use of rules, such as rule number 7, article 1,
from 1958, which deals with the crime of occupation of another Arab
country. The Arabs involve every rule that is in their own interest.
This is not the same as the Kurdish interest. For instance, the Kurds
have suffered under Arabization since the establishment of the Iraqi
state, and there are many episodes and documents proving this.
However, there is not a single article in the statute of the tribunal
regarding this crime. Arabization should have a clear definition.
Arabization can be seen as a type of ethnic cleansing with particular
characteristics. Arabism is central for Arabization, for instance a
cleansed territory of the targeted group settles only by Arabs; the
victims in some areas are forcibly pushed to accept Arab national
identity only, and so on.
Article 12 from the statute concerns crimes against humanity, which
includes crimes such as extermination, but this in itself cannot
encompass the crime of Arabization. The text is vague, does not give
a precise definition of ethnic cleansing, and does not sufficiently
deal with the ethnic cleansing committed against the Kurds.
After annexing the southern part of Kurdistan into Iraq, the Kurdish
issue was regarded as internal Iraqi problem. However, this did not
change the essential nature of the Kurdish struggle for national
freedom. The conflict between Arabs and Kurds has always been based
on two different ethnic nationalisms, which have contradictory
aspirations and aims. The Arabs – representing the Iraqi state –
tried to assimilate and cleanse the weak Kurdish minority, while the
Kurdish minority struggled for their lost land and national freedom.
Ethnic cleansing, Arabization, and genocide are the result of a
long-term ethnic conflict between these two national groups. From
this point of view – as is acceptable for any ethnic conflict –
neither the Arabs nor the Iraqi state have the right to judge the
genocide, for which the Iraqi Arabs and the state is responsible.
They do not have the right to write their own victims’ history. Would
the Armenian people accept a Turkish court and Turkish judges in
connection with the Armenian genocide? I do not think so.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian
NAASR 50th ANNIVERSARY GALA TO FEATURE
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DR. GREGORY ADAMIAN
——
SYMPOSIUM ON “ARMENIAN-TURKISH DIALOGUE AND
THE DIRECTION OF ARMENIAN STUDIES”
  Dr. Gregory H. Adamian, Chancellor and President Emeritus
of Bentley College in Waltham, MA, will be the keynote speaker at the
NAASR Celebrates 50! Gala Banquet marking the 50th anniversary of the
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research.  The
celebration will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception on Saturday
evening, September 30, 2006, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge,
MA.  Dinner and an event-filled program will follow.  The evening
will also include a retrospective video, surprise announcements and
guests, and will conclude with music and dancing with the Leon
Janikian Ensemble.
An Extraordinary Career of Service
  Dr. Adamian is a Charter and Life Member of NAASR and a
member of its Board of Directors since 1956.  During more than two
decades as President of Bentley College, of which he has been called
its “second founder,” the school experienced dramatic academic,
financial, and physical growth.  His exceptional service to the
Armenian community was recognized by Karekin I, Catholicos of All
Armenians, when Adamian was awarded the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob
medal in 1998.  He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Law
degree from Boston University.
  The NAASR Celebrates 50! program will also feature
remarks by Paul R. Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy and
Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Lyndon B. Johnson and
former President of the Washington Post.  Ignatius, raised in the
Armenian-American community of Glendale, CA, recently traveled to his
ancestral lands as a member of the 2006 NAASR Armenian Heritage Tour.
Morning Symposium
  The NAASR celebratory events of September 30 will
commence with a morning symposium on “Armenian-Turkish Dialogue and
the Direction of Armenian Studies.”  The symposium will take place at
the Royal Sonesta Hotel from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
  Hardly any subject has occasioned as much discussion in
recent years as that of Armenian-Turkish dialogue and the prospect of
the opening up of Turkey to an honest assessment of 1915.  Some of
the implications for Turkey were discussed at the landmark conference
in Istanbul in September 2005.  What are the implications for the
direction of Armenian Studies?
Scholars Represent Diverse Fields
  The participants in the symposium are top scholars
representing a wide range of expertise within Armenian Studies and
related fields which stand to be affected by the evolving
Armenian-Turkish dialogue.  The participants are Dr. Taner Akcam,
Visiting Associate Professor of History, University of Minnesota;
Rachel Goshgarian, Ph.D candidate, Department of Near Eastern
Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; Dr. Richard G.
Hovannisian, Armenian Educational Foundation Professor of Modern
Armenian History, University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Gerard
J. Libaridian, Alex Manoogian Professor of Modern Armenian History,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Dr. Christina Maranci, Associate
Professor of Art History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  Dr.
Kevork Bardakjian of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, will
serve as Panel Respondent.  Marc A. Mamigonian, NAASR’s Director of
Programs and Publications, will serve as moderator and NAASR Chairman
Emeritus Manoog S. Young will be the Honorary Chairman of the
Symposium.
  Following the presentations of the symposium panelists
there will be a period of discussion and the opportunity for the
audience to participate in the question-and-answer period.
  For more information about NAASR’s 50th anniversary
celebration or about NAASR and its programs for the furtherance of
Armenian studies, research, and publication please call 617-489-1610,
fax 617-484-1759, e-mail [email protected], or write to NAASR, 395 Concord
Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
–Boundary_(ID_LXgazrM8MDkCRp/XsAESwg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #162, 26/08/2006
Region
CONSTRUCTION OF KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI-BAKU TO START 2007
“Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway is of strategic importance for
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Execution of the project will begin in 2007,” Trend agency referred
to Turkish press that quoted Binali Yildirim, transport minister of
Turkey, as saying.
“$320 million was allocated for the project’s implementation,” Yildirim
said adding that “thanks to the railway, Turkey will become the main
transit country in transporting goods from Europe to Asia.”
Yildirim said that currently the issue of another railway through
Nakhijevan to Iran is being discussed.
“We will carefully discuss that issue,” the Turkish minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
17:15 25/08/06
PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM OF ARMENIA NOT ORGANIZED
The Armenian chamber and philharmonic band prepares the songs
chosen as the first 5 choices for the national anthem of Armenia,
Gayane Durgaryan, press service head of ministry of culture and youth
affairs told Panorama.am. The authors of the selected songs are Tigran
Mansuryan, Yervand Yerznkyan, Edgar Hovhannisyan, Aram Khachatryan
and Robert Amirkhanyan.
When the songs are ready, they will be presented for public
judgment. According to initial decision, the hearings must be
conducted late August. Today is August 25 but the songs are not
ready yet. It is also not clear what funds will be used to organize
the hearings. Most probably, the competition committee will reach a
cabinet decision. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ August 17, 2006
(617) 923-1933
AYF Junior Athletic Games Travel to New Jersey
WATERTOWN, Mass. – The Central Junior Council (CJC) of the AYF-YOARF
Eastern Region recently announced plans for the annual AYF-YOARF
Junior Athletic Games (JAG) to be held September 29- to October 1.
Similar to the annual Senior Olympic Games, JAG brings together
juniors from the Mid-Atlantic and New England chapters for friendly
competition, fraternalism and enjoying the AYF spirit. Traditionally
held at Camp Haiastan, this year’s event, now in its 6th year, will
be held in New Jersey and hosted by the New Jersey Arsen chapter.
Emulating the feel that that Mid-West games have, the CJC and Central
Executive hope to draw in larger crowds of parents and supporters
and create a strong family atmosphere.
The official headquarters will be the Marriot in Saddle Brook, N.J.,
with games taking place in Bergen County. The weekend’s activities will
include a Friday evening welcoming social, followed by the swimming and
track and field games on Saturday. The New Jersey Arsen Seniors will be
sponsoring the Fall Ball featuring the Aravod Ensemble on September 30.
AYF juniors, family members, and supporters are strongly encouraged
to attend this event as it promises to add new feel and dimension to
the event. “The AYF is about the families, the people, the generations
of Armenians that have lived and are living in the Diaspora and how
we can continue to grow and remain united. With this event, we hope
not only for the juniors to have fun, but for the families to also
share in these memorable moments,” said CJC chairperson Angela Deese.
The Saddle Brook Marriott is located at 138 Pehle Ave, Saddle Brook,
N.J. 07663. Reservations should be made by attendees by directly
calling Marriott reservations at (800) 832-6254 or (201) 843-9500.
When registering, mention the room block for the Armenian Youth
Federation. The room rate for the group is $109 per night and rooms
have been blocked on September 29 and September 30.
Individuals are also encouraged to contact CJC at [email protected] ,
or by calling the AYF Eastern Region Office at (617) 923-1933.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

August 25, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER SERVICES AT
ST. GARABED CHURCH
On Sunday, August 27, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will preside over Holy Mass at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood,
and deliver his sermon.
We would also like to announce that H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, and H.E. Archbishop Suren Kataroyan,
former Prelate of the Diocese of Aleppo, are briefly visiting our
Prelacy. Upon the invitation of the Prelate, Archbishop Choloyan will
preside over Mass at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and deliver his
sermon, while Archbishop Kataroyan will preside over services and
deliver his sermon at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
PRELATE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEET WITH PARISH PASTORS AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
The Prelate and the Executive Council continue their meetings with
the Pastors and Board of Trustees of our parishes.
On Tuesday, August 15, the Prelate and Executive Council
members met with the Pastor and Board of Trustees of Holy Martyrs
Church in Encino, and on Tuesday, August 22nd with the Pastor and
Board of Trustees of St. Garabed Church in Hollywood.
HOLY MASS AND OFFERING OF BLESSINGS IN FRESNO
COMMEMORATING THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF
THE HEROIC BATTLE OF MOUSA DAGH
On Sunday, September 3rd, the Mousa Dagh Compatriotic Union will
commemorate the 91st anniversary of the heroic battle of Mousa Dagh
in Fresno with Holy Mass, offering of the blessings (madaghorhnek),
and festivities.
The Prelate delegated Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian to
conduct Holy Mass, deliver his sermon, and preside over the blessing
of madagh.
PRELACY ESTABLISHES ECUMENICAL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
On the evening of Thursday, August 24, under the auspices of the
Prelate, the Prelacy Ecumenical Activities Committee convened its
first meeting. In attendance were Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Ms.
Vanna Kitsinian, Ms. Palig Babian, Mr. Raffi Kurkjian, Mr. Shahe
Keshishian, and Mr. Ara Der Haroutounian.
The Prelate commenced the meeting, detailing the mission
and responsibilities of the committee and stating that the committee
will function as a part of the Ecumenical activities of the Holy See
of Cilicia. The committee elected Vanna Kitsinian as Chairperson,
after which it decided that each member should contact local
non-Armenian sister churches, inquire about similar committees they
might have, and establish ties that will be conducive to future
collaboration.
PRELATE EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES
TO THE FAMILY OF KEVORK KANDAHARIAN
On Thursday, August 17, the Armenian community mourned the loss of
long-time educator Kevork Kandaharian, which occurred in Beirut,
Lebanon. On behalf of the Prelacy Religious and Executive Councils,
the Prelate expressed his condolences to the family.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Georgian
Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli on August 24 arrived in Javakhk with
a short working visit.
According to the A-Info news agency, while in Ninotsminda and
Akhalkalak, the Georgian prime minister familiarized himself with the
construction work being done there with state budget resources. He
visited the youth sport centers of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda currently
under construction, as well as school No. 2 (where the instruction
is in Russian) of Akhalkalak.
Z. Noghaideli became acquainted with the process of constructing
Aspindza-Akhalkalak Road and expressed a hope that this work will be
completed by October.
During the prime minister’s visit, deputy of the Georgian parliament
Hamlet Movsisian proposed providing assistance to Javakhk’s farmers
who suffered from this year’s drought. In his words, Z. Noghaideli
promised to be useful not only in this issue but also to assist the
most vulnerable families and the disabled with fuel this winter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress