Author: Emil Lazarian

THE FORGOTTEN ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS OF MESOPOTAMIA
By Alkan Chaglar

Assyrian International News Agency, CA
June 29 2006

Assyrians have lived in South-Eastern Anatolia, Northern Iraq,
Eastern Syria and Western Iran since times of antiquity. Living
beneath the shadow of poplar and mulberry trees, and amid crimson
poppies swaying in the wind they number no more than a million in
the entire region. Praying as their ancestors had done for over a
thousand years in small earth-coloured churches surmounted by a dome
and joined by a tower with plangent church bells, the community are
descendants of a once great empire.

The Assyrian empire once extended from the Zagros Mountains in the
East to the coast of Lebanon. The Assyrians who are also known more
generally under the umbrella terms for Nestorian Christians are not
‘Christian Arabs’ as some people believe, but speak a Semitic language,
called Syriac. Although semblable to both Arabic and Hebrew, the
language pre-dates both languages and is one of the oldest languages
in the region.

The community has always been entrepreneurial, leading an active
economic role in the jewellery trade in Turkey. Their presence is
quite strong in the rambunctious Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Assigned
to the role of ‘good jewellers’ the community is often overlooked
by both the government and the media, which tend to focus on the
situation of the more numerous Kurdish population.

Living in five mostly Muslim states in the Middle-East has often
put the Assyrians in the line of fire. According to F.P.Isaac in the
early part of the 20th century the Ottomans, faced with the break-up
of their empire, expelled thousands of Assyrians, matters did not
improve much in the secular Republic of Turkey which followed. From
a presence of 130,000 Assyrians in the 1960s the number has dwindled
down to 5000 today, of which only 2000 of which reside in South
East of Anatolia. Faced with ‘greater problems’ the Turkish state
policy has done little to include the Assyrians in recent years to
feel apart of the secular state that Turkey purports to be. This has
fuelled the steady immigration of the community abroad.

Life is not much better for the Assyrians in neighbouring countries
either. The Iraqi Chaldean-Assyrian minority was one of the prime
targets of the Ba’athist party for their role in collaborating with
the British during their occupation of Iraq. Today in post-Ba’athist
Iraq Assyrians find themselves the target of Islamic fundamentalists
and insurgents who hold them to blame for the actions of the
‘Christian occupiers’, the Americans and the British. Faced with
growing Arabisation and Kurdification of northern Iraq, Assyrians
have been making a steady exit from Iraq to neighbouring Arab states
and from there to the West.

In Turkey, Assyrians are recognised as a religious minority and not
as an ethnic minority like the Armenians, this might seem as a simple
difference in terminology but in fact it is quite a crippling status
for the community. Unlike the Armenians, Assyrians still cannot teach
in their own language, so this indigenous community is left manacled by
the state. Being prevented from teaching one’s ancestral language to
future generations of that community has been one of the key factors
forcing this community to leave the country in recent decades.

Fortunately, the EU factor in Turkey coupled with the end of the
worst fighting between the PKK and Security Forces is beginning to
provide short term benefits to small minorities like the Assyrians,
as the government in Ankara seeks to harmonise many of her own policies
with those of the EU. Conditions are now improving for the community,
which was previously on the brink of extinction in the region. An
interest in Assyrian culture and its benefits for tourism is currently
been explored and even the Turkish governor now visits the community
to offer his support. Five years ago during the height of violence
between the PKK and the Turkish security forces this would have not
been possible.

With funds from the European Union, Istanbul Bilgi University opened
an Assyrian cultural centre in the town of Midyat on the 29th of
April 2006 for the first time and last year the city of Mardin hosted
the first international symposium of Mardin history. Some Assyrians
from the diaspora have repatriated to their ancestral region in
recent years.

However, many of the children of those returning diaspora can
only speak Syriac and have little knowledge of Turkish, but faced
with an absence of Syriac classes, they are prevented from a proper
education. The absence of schools that teach Syriac is preventing the
existing group from learning their community’s language while on the
other hand encouraging the new arrivals to forget theirs.

Without downplaying the positive reforms in Turkey, the state, which
strives to be secular and a "garden of different flowers" needs not
only to be cognizant of the diversity of their country but needs
to put this into educational policy. Policy makers can encourage
the teaching and use of minority or regional languages without being
detrimental to the use of official languages. It should be government
policy to promote, protect, and preserve the Indigenous languages of
the republic, this would be mutually beneficial to both the ethnic
group and the state in whose confines they reside.

While Assyrians are faced with uncertainty in Iraq and Iran, where
insurgents are keen to destroy multiculturalism, Turkey should
set a precedent by not just promoting multi-faith communities but
multi-lingualism as well. Language like religion is a fundamental
part of a community’s identity; it is used to transmit a community’s
history, poetry, music and literature that will be forever lost without
it. Like other minorities elsewhere without schooling in their own
language, the future generations of Assyrians will be bereft of a
future and unequal in their rights as Turkish citizens.

The Turkish state needs to extend full citizenship to all her citizens.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"DIRECT AGREEMENT" TO BE SIGNED BY ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT, ARMENIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, EBRD AND DEG

Noyan Tapan
Jun 29 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 29 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the "Direct Agreement" to be signed
by the Armenian government, Armenia International Airports CJSC,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and DEG
company (Germany). According to the RA Government Information and
PR Department, the government authorized Artyom Movsesian, Head of
the Main Department of Civil Aviation adjunct to the RA government
to sign the agreement on behalf of the Armenian government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO CONTACTS OF DIASPORAN YOUTH WITH ARTSAKH

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 29 2006

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 29,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian received the delegation of pupils
of Manukian-Demirchian college (Los Angeles, USA) of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

As Noyan Tapan was informed by NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson,
Arkady Ghukasian attached importance to contacts of the Diasporan youth
with the historical homeland and especially with Artsakh and mentioned
that Artaskh’s future will greatly depend on it. The President also
pointed out to AGBU’s traditional and recently also Manukan-Demirchian
college’s active participation in various humanitarian programs
implemented in the territory of NKR and expressed confidence that
such visits will become traditional.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERDOGAN ADDRESSES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THOUGHT

Turkish Press
June 29 2006

Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
on freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs yesterday,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the recent cartoon
crisis, saying that insulting a religion shouldn’t be considered
freedom of expression. "Criticism and insult are different from
each other," said Erdogan. Stressing that it should be seriously
considered whether freedom of expression was being abused as freedom
to insult, Erdogan stated that freedom of expression and thought
were indispensable factors of common values. "Our system of values
shapes our identity," he said. "Islamophobia should be considered
a crime against humanity." He stressed that the main problem was a
dangerous polarization in the international community on the basis of
cultural and religious values. "Democracy is a regime of compromise
and patience as well as freedom," said Erdogan. Touching on the
so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said that Ankara had proposed
that historians should research the issue. Speaking afterwards,
Erdogan said that the government wouldn’t take any more steps on
Cyprus for its European Union membership. "We’ve taken 11 steps,
and we won’t take any more until those who need to take steps do so,"
added the premier.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA SPEAKER PRESENTS COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL PROCESS OF MAKING LEGISLATION CORRESPONDING TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 29 2006

STRASBOURG, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. After the
referendum on the constitutional reforms in Armenia, amendments
to more than 60 laws must be made to make them corresponding, and
amendments have already been made to 10 laws. Tigran Torosian, the RA
National Assembly Speaker, the head of the Armenian delegation to the
PACE stated about it at the meeting with Council of Europe Secretary
General Terry Davis which took place on June 28 in Strasbourg, within
the framework of the PACE summer session. The NA Speaker mentioned
that active works must be done in summer to accept the Electoral Code
in autumn. Torosian attached importance to formation of an atmosphere
of solidarity of political forces at the Parliament and out of the
Parliament to hold 2007 parliamentary elections in correspondence to
all democratic standards.

Terry Davis congratulated Tigran Torosian on the occasion of being
elected on the National Assembly Speaker’s post and attached importance
to meaning of work of the Parliament during coming one year from the
viewpoint of democratic developments in Armenia and particularly,
of 2007 parliamentary elections.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
the issue of the aggressive policy of the Azerbaijani delegation
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was also
discussed at the meeting. Head of the Armenian delegation Tigran
Torosian attached importance to Strasbourg sessions for joint
discussions relating to member countries as well as ones on general
issues, whereas, members of the Azerbaijani delegation use the PACE
tribune to spread aspersions and falsifications, to present invented
accusations to Armenia. Particularly, during discussing all issues
this time, Azerbaijani deputies arise the issue of setting on fire
green territories of Nagorno Karabakh and neighboring regions. Tigran
Torosian presented the reality, emphasizing that till the NKR
authorities addressed to the Office of the Assistant’s Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to hold a corresponding observation,
to estimate the situation and to disprove false accusations,
Azeris present a political show in Strasbourg. It already becomes
impossible in such a situation to keep members of the Armenian
delegation from making responding speeches. Considering spreading
of aspersions and false accusations incoherent to the CE principles,
the NA Speaker proposed to undertake steps to correct that unhealthy
situation. Terry Davis agreed that it is realy a serious issue,
and promised to take steps.

An interview published in the Armenian press was also touched upon. The
interview with the CE Secretary General was held by a correspondent
of the "Yerkir Media" TV company. Terry Davis explained that the
journalist incites him to make condemning statements, particularly
concerning Turkey’s economic blockade towards Armenia, he has no
necessary data to do it. He also asked to give him the text of the
interview.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE REPORTER ON ISSUES OF MISSING PEOPLE IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA TO VISIT NKR AS WELL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 29 2006

STRASBOURG, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The meeting of RA
NA Speaker, head of the Armenian delegation in PACE Tigran Torosian
and PACE Reporter on Issues of Missing People in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia Leo Platvoet was held on June 28 in Strasbourg. The results
of Platvoet’s recent visit to the region were discussed at the meeting.

Tigran Torosian expressed satisfaction that Leo Platvoet agreed to
meet with the head of the NKR Committee and one of the NGOs engaged
in issues of missing people during the visit and remained loyal to
the approach of not politicizing the issue of missing people during
the regional visit. He expressed readiness to assist all the efforts
of the report aimed at the solution of this important, humane issue.

In connection with Tigran Torosian’s proposal made in Yerevan about
visiting NKR Leo Platvoet said that in his opinion, it will be useful
to visit Nagorno Karabakh and Abkhazia and he decided to present
his report on the visit during the sitting of the PACE Committee on
Refugees, Migration and Demography, proposing that the Committee give
consent to the idea of visiting Nagorno Karabakh and Abkhazia. As
Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
this proposal was adopted at the Committee sitting later.

Leo Platvoet proposed giving the lists of missing Armenians so that
an attempt can be made to organize searches in Azerbaijan to find
those who are maybe still alive. Platvoet was proposed creating a
working group with participation of all sides, under the aegis of
the Red Cross, for the purpose of assisting the searches of missing
people. The proposal was accepted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSPECTS FOR THE BLACK SEA RING
by Olga Stroinova
Translated by Pavel Pushkin

Source: Parlamentskaya Gazeta, June 28, 2006, pp. 1, 7
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
June 29, 2006 Thursday

An interview with Federation Council member Alexander Dzasokhov; The
27th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation was held in Yerevan, Armenia. Federation Council member
Alexander Dzasokhov discusses the results of the meeting and the work
of this international parliamentary organization.

The 27th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (PABEC) was held in Yerevan, Armenia. Alexander
Dzasokhov, Federation Council member for North Ossetia, headed the
Russian parliamentary delegation. Dzasokhov discusses the results
of the meeting and the work of this international parliamentary
organization.

Question: You have the richest experience of work in international
parliamentary organizations. In the past, when you were a Duma member,
you headed the Russian parliamentary delegation at meetings of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Now you head of the
Russian parliamentary delegation to PABEC.

Alexander Dzasokhov: PABEC is the youngest interstate organization
that accumulates a big diversity of countries and peoples. It was
established at the beginning of the 1990s when serious disintegration
processes were underway in the Balkans. Afterwards, after breakup of
the USSR, contours of the former Soviet Union were really formed. The
tension of ethnic political conflicts is not relieved there. That is
why for us, for Russia, PABEC is very interesting.

Question: So to speak, member states of the Black Sea economic
cooperation form the Black Sea ring and, as we see, economy is the
basis for the organization’s name. One of the member states, for
example, Turkey has a stable state system. Some others are countries
of the Greater Caucasus that have acquired their statehood quite
recently. The region is very difficult. Do you manage to abstract
yourself from politics absolutely?

Alexander Dzasokhov: In working our of coordinated positions and
decisions the incumbent generation of parliament members, politicians
and state officials participating in activities of PABEC operates
results of the events of the last 10-15 years. What happened in the
Black Sea countries then had such serious consequences that it was
necessary to take this into account in agenda of the plenary meetings
this way or the other. PABEC was established when PACE and OSCE already
existed and this was not incidental that it was named organization of
the Black Sea economic cooperation because the founders wanted to get
abstracted from politics and from very difficult issues that sometimes
could not even be resolved. It is already possible to say that they
have been right. An organization was needed that could synthesize
political problems through solving of economic problems. You are
right saying that the region is difficult.

Let us recall that the ranks of participants of the Black Sea economic
cooperation were formed with big difficulties. The organization will
turn 15 years in 2007. Turkish politicians and parliament members
stood at the cradle of this organization. They never questioned the
fact that Russia should play an important role there.

However, those who started this large geopolitical project were
not ready to see the current composition of participants in the
organization, a part of them being in a state of conflict with
each other.

If the principle we will not accept any country having no Black
Sea coast or we will not accept any country that has conflicts with
the others has been followed the organization would not have been
established at all.

As a result of very difficult discussions and motivations there is
Armenia in PABEC because it is connected with the Black Sea countries
with life bonds. Now the organization includes 12 countries.

Countries located far from the Black Sea already manifested their
interest in their presence in the organization. For instance, Belarus
already received a status of observer. At the next general assembly
the Czech Republic will be included into PABEC. The US and Canada are
standing in a queue. I presume that sooner or later Middle Eastern
countries including Iran will enter the organization too. That is why
it is impossible to fully rule out the political components and this
would probably be not quite correct.

Question: Was the recent session of PABEC in Yerevan different from
the previous ones?

Alexander Dzasokhov: Unfortunately, we need to admit that unregulated
conflicts have the biggest density among the Greater Caucasus
countries. These are Armenia-Azerbaijan, Georgia-South Ossetia,
Georgia-Abkhazia, that is why I take the proposal of Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan "not to wait until regulation of all conflicts and
to start development of the economic projects planned a long time ago"
as a real political stance. Our economic plans should not be overlaid
on the conflicts that exist in the Black Sea region.

We should progress significantly in development of our trading,
infrastructure and energy projects that will contribute to resolving
of the conflicts hanging above our countries.

Question: Is there such project that can unite the conflicting
countries?

Alexander Dzasokhov: It is necessary to say that there is still a
huge deficit in correct and realistic representation of the role
of PABEC. Externally, there is frequency of organization of various
meetings and so on. As to the really meaningful part with possible
potential result in Russia and in the Caucasian countries it does
not exist yet. I am convinced that Russia with its southern regions,
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan should check opportunities of economic
interaction and then understanding and readiness for more efficient
and detailed participation in the Black Sea economic cooperation would
change qualitatively. Let us take, for example, energy being one of
the most problems for the region. Experts say that Russia, Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia have such hydro energy potential that they can
generate 140 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. However,
possibilities of hydro energy are used in the mountainous rivers of
the Caucasus only by 9-10% now. Turkey needs purchase of electric
energy and Caucasian republics need these resources too. Here is
already one project.

As you know, the European Union proposed a new transport project
TRASECA to connect European countries with Asia via the Caucasus.

This is a kind of clone of the Great Silk Road. The authors of
this project moved the route to the south of our borders under the
influence of political situation of the middle of the 1990s. Now
European countries, for example, Germany and Scandinavian countries,
understand that this project is expensive and it is necessary to
correct it. Natural and recreational wealth of the Black Sea with
their mineral waters is very big. This may be another joint project.

What is the most interesting what should be done now is construction
of modern transportation routes on the Black Sea coast. If four
countries, namely Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, worked
out common energy, transportation and environmental projects, I am
convinced that potential allies would join this "nucleus." First of
all, these are Iran and Turkey.

Question: Everything that we speak about is only a wishful thinking
yet.

Alexander Dzasokhov: History has proven frequently that relations
between big and large nations and between the states are primarily
determined by relations between the leaders of these countries and
nations. Of course, the epoch in which we work now is remarkable
because some leaders of the post-Soviet states probably think like
this: now it is possible to use the overall configuration of forces
and to strengthen our positions relying on the states located far
overseas. They think that the less is the influence of Russia the
bigger is the influence of Europe or America. Along with this, having
no common borders with Europe and moreover with America they wish to
become members of the European Union and NATO. There is an absolutely
different example of the group of leaders and post-Soviet states in
the Asian region who reflect expectations of their citizens more
accurately. Of course, relations among politicians and leaders of
the Greater Caucasus countries are uneven but the latest session in
Yerevan has shown that new trends appear in these relations. The next
28th general assembly of PABEC will be held in November in Azerbaijan
and I think that reassignment of the post of the chair from Armenia
to Azerbaijan opens new opportunities for strengthening of relations
in the Caucasus.

Question: To what extent is the executive branch involved in Black
Sea economic cooperation activities?

Alexander Dzasokhov: Discussion about the multi-polar world played
its role. Look how many serious regional organizations were created
by now. These are Council of Europe, European Union, CIS, Euro-Asian
Economic Community, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, APEC. It is
possible to say that multi-polar world is making its way. As for
representatives of executive branch bodies in activities of PABEC, I
will only indicate the issues that are discussed at permanent meetings
of representatives of the executive branch bodies. These are combating
of economic crimes, creation of tourist programs and simplification
of the visa regime. On the nearest agenda there is energy security. A
big work is being done by non-governmental organizations that send
signals to us with regard to migration issues and wages formation. In
the Caucasus alone more than 2 million people are involved in migration
processes. Incidentally, activities of PABEC are currently based in
the Caucasus. Now the general assembly was held in Yerevan. Azerbaijan
will chair it in the next six months.

That is why we hope very much that in the framework of our discussions
we will manage to increase the level of interaction of Russia and
other Caucasus countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAZIMIROV: NO SUFFICIENT ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CAUSED BY BRYZA STATEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The interview of US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Matthew Bryza
causes several questions and sub-questions at once, former Russian
Co-Chair of the OSCE MG Vladimir Kazimirov told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. "First. Is it agreed upon among the OSCE MG Co-Chairs,
and maybe the parties, that the beginning Co-Chair makes a statement
explaining the essence of their proposals to two parties out of the
three? The response of Armenia and Azerbaijan shows that it surprised
them. Is not it a surprise by the novice for the two his colleagues,
who have been dealing with the settlement a few years more? There is
much extravagance in that move of the novice. Mere trifle remains now –
to work out this pretence by actions," Kazimirov noted.

"Second issue: to which degree is his presentation of the essence
of co-chairs’ proposals to the parties is full and reliable? Not
everything is even here, judging by the response of Yerevan and
Baku. The next sub-question: what is the cause of incompleteness of
what Bryza said in his interview? Intention or not full assimilation
of the material? Third, I would not like to believe that it is a
completely independent decision of the individual, not controlled by
the State Department leadership. However, what is the goal of the US
diplomacy then, who chose that peculiar method to arrange interaction
with co-chairing partners, when changing their representative? Will
the two partner applause him? How will Armenian and Azeri journalists
exploit this talkativeness of the new co-chair during his coming
trip to the conflict region? Returning to traditional reserve of
his colleagues will not be that easy now and it will even form an
impression that is not favorable for him.

Continuing in the same manner cannot last long and will form an
impression of lightness," Kazimirov stated.

"In a words, Matthew Bryza caused many questions, however there are
no sufficient answers to these.

There are additional questions instead. He caused more confusion and
gossip, even exacerbated the debate between the parties to conflict. Is
it necessary for the settlement, or it pursues other goals? It should
be examined closely and time will show," summed up the former Co-Chair
of the OSCE MG.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE INTERIM SUBCOMMITTEE ON KARABAKH TO VISIT REGION IN OCTOBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of the Armenian delegation to the PACE,
Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Azeri delegation head Samed Seidov met
with Rapporteur of the PACE Interim Subcommittee on Karabakh Russell
Johnston.

They discussed the Subcommittee coming visit to Armenia, NK and
Azerbaijan in compliance with the 1416 Resolution of the OSCE MG
for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The PACE Bureau
has approved the composition of the commission proposed by Armenian
Speaker, Armenian delegation leader Tigran Torosyan at the Spring
Session. It now includes heads of the Armenian and Azeri delegations,
one opposition MP of each country, reporters on monitoring in the
two states, Lord Russell Johnston, PACE Rapporteur on the missing in
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Leo Platvoet.

Taking into attention the circumstance that in the second half of
October a meeting of the PACE Monitoring Commission will be held
in Yerevan, while in the second half of November the sitting of the
Political Commission will take place in Baku, a preliminary agreement
is reached that the Subcommittee will arrive in the region in the
last week of October.

The visit will be familiarization and meetings in Armenia, NK and
Azerbaijan are planned, reports the Armenian NA Press Service.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGRICULTURE MINISTER VISITS ARAGATSOTN PROVINCE

Armenpress
Jun 29 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian agricultural minister David
Lokian traveled the other day through the province of Aragatsotn
parts of which were hit heavily a few days before by a strong hail.

The minister first visited several villages in Aparan and Aragats
regions of the province and spoke to farmers to learn their problems
and then headed for Tsakhkahovit which sustained the heaviest losses
and where the hail is believed to destroy around 60 percent of
wheat crops.

Farmers complained about poor supply of irrigation and drinking water,
roads with potholes, inaccessibility of natural gas. The minister
said he would give instructions to examine the raised problems and
offer proposals how to eliminate them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress