Author: Emil Lazarian

Pan Armenian News
CONCERT MARKING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TOBOLSK
28.04.2005 04:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dialogue of Cultures concert marking the 90-th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey was held in Tobolsk, reported the
Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. Newspaper representative in
the Tumen District, Chairman of the Youth parliament of Tobolsk Hakob
Asloyan has organized the event. Bands of diverse nationalities living in
the city took part in the concert, remarkable for the participants
performing items in Armenian. Thus, well-known Tatar singers and composers
brother Hasan and Husain Arangulovs sang Manushak (Violet) song and Shape
Ballet Russian ethnographic group professionally performed an Armenian folk
dance.

St Peterburg Times
Published April 27, 2005
Armenian Christians mark a painful past, joyful future
A day of sadness is also a time of great expectations in Pinellas Park.
By WAVENEY ANN MOORE, Times Staff Writer
[Times photo: Douglas R. Clifford]
The Rev. Nersess Jebejian blesses a memorial meal held by Nora Khatcherian,
9, left, and Ani Kamajian, 8, on Sunday at St. Hagop Armenian Church in
Pinellas Park. The church plans to start a new worship center in a few
months.
PINELLAS PARK – Armenians throughout the Tampa Bay area crowded into a tiny
chapel Sunday to remember ancestors who were massacred, starved to death or
otherwise persecuted by the tens of thousands early in the last century.
The gathering at St. Hagop Armenian Church, 7050 90th Ave. N, was one of
many around the country to mark the 90th anniversary of what is referred to
as the Armenian Genocide.
But the day was more than a requiem for the 1.5-million men, women and
children who perished under the weight of the Ottoman Turks, said St.
Hagop’s priest, the Rev. Nersess Jebejian.
That thriving Armenian communities and churches exist today is a victory, he
said.
“One and a half million-plus were massacred and they were sacrificed, but
we’re living today, not only for them but for our future,” Jebejian said.
At St. Hagop’s, where more than 100 people crammed into the chapel or stood
just outside its sliding glass doors Sunday, that future is full of hope. In
a few months, the congregation of about 400 families hopes to begin building
a church and multipurpose building to carry on the centuries-old legacy of
Armenian Christianity and culture.
The new church is a long-deferred dream. It was almost 20 years ago that
founding members began talking about forming a community for local Armenian
Orthodox Christians. They held their first service in a borrowed building.
They bought the now prime property at 90th Avenue and Belcher Road with
proceeds from paper and aluminum can drives, dinners, garage sales,
festivals and individual donations.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1997. Early in 2002, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
visited to consecrate the cornerstone and launch a fundraising campaign for
a project that would eventually include a church, multipurpose center and
cultural hall.
The church and multipurpose building are expected to begin in September and
be complete in seven to nine months, St. Hagop’s priest said.
St. Hagop’s is part of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which traces
its origin to the first century, when the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew
preached in Armenia and were martyred.
For Dr. Hagop “Jack” Mashikian, a retired psychiatrist and vice chairman of
the church’s parish council, the new buildings will be a testament to more
than perseverance of a congregation that draws worshipers from the Tampa Bay
area and beyond.
“It’s a vindication of the spirit of survival of our forebears,” he said.
Last weekend’s requiem, which followed the customary Sunday Divine Liturgy,
was offered for the 1.5-million Armenians killed between 1915 and 1923 by
the Central Committee of the Young Turk Party of the Ottoman Empire. Then,
Armenians were a Christian minority in a Muslim community.
In 1915, thousands were deported and sent to starvation and death in the
Syrian desert. Along the way, they were attacked and killed by bands of
Turks. Mashikian, the parish council member, said that many young women were
forced into harems or to marry their abductors.
“The intent of the Ottoman Empire was to annihilate the Armenians,”
Mashikian said.
Armenians lived in what is now eastern Turkey, he said. They also were in
the southeastern part of the country, which now is mostly occupied by Kurds.
In the United States, Armenians are concentrated in the Boston area,
Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Michigan, New York and New Jersey. Most
are descendants of survivors of what is called the first genocide of the
20th century.
“There is hardly any Armenian over the age of 60 here who does not have an
immediate member of his family as a victim of genocide,” said Mashikian, who
lost his maternal grandfather, paternal grandparents and an uncle in the
brutality.
Lani Silver, a genocide historian who worked with Steven Spielberg as a
consultant on his oral history of Holocaust survivors, said the trauma of
genocide lasts for generations.
“There’s a hole in your heart forever. You’ve been a people that have been
hated enough to be killed,” said Silver, who was in St. Petersburg this week
to give a talk, “Making the Link: The Holocaust, Genocide and Racism,” at
the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
“This speaks to the beauty and strength of the Armenian people that they
have continued on despite such a murderous crime,” Silver said.
What’s sad, she added, is that “very few people really remember the Armenian
genocide.”
On Sunday, though, Armenian Martyrs’ Day, St. Hagop’s tiny chapel could not
hold all who wanted to remember.
“After 90 years of crying, of lamenting, of hoping, this little community is
showing its survival,” Mashikian told those gathered.
“Our brothers and sisters perished with hope for days like today.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic]GDP 18 per cent up in 2004
Artsakh Public TV, Stepanakert
26 Apr 05

Text of report by Nagornyy Karabakh’s Artsakh Public TV on 26 April
The NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] Cabinet of Ministers held a
plenary meeting on 26 April.
The Cabinet adopted over 40 decisions, draft laws, changes and
amendments to some laws. The adopted decisions covered economic issues
in general, agriculture, health care, social security, taxation,
education, sports, finance and so on.
The Cabinet also adopted a report on the 2004 state budget. GDP in
2004 increased by 18.2 per cent, budget revenue being 48 per cent more
than in 2003, the NKR prime minister, Anushavan Daniyelyan, said. In
2005, GDP will reach 48bn drams [109m dollars], and thus, the NKR’s
GDP will double compared to 2001, Anushavan Daniyelyan noted.

The UCLA Daily Bruin, CA
April 27 2005
Turkish people upset by Schwarzenegger remarks
ANKARA, Turkey ? A Turkish group uniting hundreds of businesses and
organizations demanded Tuesday that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies be
banned from Turkish television to protest the California governor’s
use of the term “genocide” to describe the massacre of Armenians by
Turks during World War I.
Schwarzenegger, a former actor best known for his role in “The
Terminator,” declared April 24 a “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide.” California has one of the largest populations of diaspora
Armenians.
Other California governors have issued annual proclamations referring
to the killings as a genocide, but last week Schwarzenegger also
signed legislation to permanently mark the day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MONITORING ON CONTACT LINE OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED
FORCES WAS PRECEDED BY PROVISION OF GUARANTEES OF SECURITY BY BOTH
PARTIES
YEREVAN, APRIL 27. ARMINFO. Regular monitoring of OSCE took place
yesterday on the contact line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed
Forces in the territory of Tavush (Armenia) and Gazakh (Azerbaijan.
Press Secretary of the Armenian Defense Minister Colonel Seyran
Shahsouvaryan informed ARMINFO. Participating in the monitoring on the
Armenian party were fields assistants of the Personal Representative
of OSCE Chairman-in-Office I.Palatinus (Hungary), A.Samarskiy
(Ukraine), and P.Key (Great Britain).
According to the source, a radio-monitoring was held at first and
contact with OSCE representatives participating in the monitoring on
the Azerbaijani party was established. As a result, the commanders of
the military units of both parties provided guarantees of security to
the monitoring participants. The monitoring was preceded by a
briefing. In the course of the briefing, Governor of Tavush region
Armen Gularyan pointed out the fact of frequent fires by the
Azerbaijani party at the section of Ijevan-Noyemberyan road. In
response to the question of I. Palatinus concerning the reason of the
frequent fires, the governor expressed opinion that either the
Azerbaijani party was unable to control over its military forces or it
was a result of military statements of Azerbaijani authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI DELEGATES TO PACE ACQUAINT THEIR COLLEAGUES WITH THEIR ETYMOLOGY
OF “KARABAKH”
STRASBOURG, APRIL 27. ARMINFO. Even the temporary stoppage of the
Armenian atomic power plant will give no positive result, Azeri
delegate to PACE Rafel Guseynov said during the Tuesday PACE debates
on the increasing vulnerability of Europe’s energy systems and
environment.
ARMINFO correspondent in Strasbourg reports Guseynov as saying that
the plant’s waste pollutes Armenia’s rivers with this pollution to
hardly be possible to eliminate even in a decade.
Remembering the etymology of the word “Karabakh” Guseynov said that it
means “Black Orchard” which reflects the true prospect Armenia is
preparing for the region. “One more translation of ‘Karabakh’ is
‘Black Knot’ which reflects the gist of the region, occupation and
horrible damage caused by Armenia’s ‘blossoming’ ecology.” “Unless we
take measures Armenia will create a new ecology for Karabakh, a new
black knot for the South Caucasus.” “Hence I urge all the Europeans to
take measures to shut down the Armenian atomic power plant,” Guseynov
said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cyprus Press and Information Office, Occupied Northern Cyprus
April 27 2005
RPP deputy leader criticizes President Bush remarks on the Armenian
genocide
Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.04.05) reported the following from
Ankara: RPP [Republican Turkish Party] deputy leader Onur Oymen has
assessed President Bush’s statement by saying that being overjoyed by
what he said will be wrong. He noted: “If you [President Bush] will
express regret on matters relating to the Armenians, then we will
have the right to expect a sympathetic statement relating to the more
than the half a million Turks killed by the Armenians in similar
incidents.”
In a written statement, Oymen said that President Bush refraining
from using the word “genocide” confirms a reality. He asserted: “In
view of that, it will be wrong to be overjoyed by President Bush’s
speech when it is assessed. We have ascertained from our records and
archives that the Armenians killed 513,000 Turks in the past. Do we
not have the right to expect a sympathetic statement? If you will
speak about the incidents and the Armenians who lost their lives in
the past, then we will have the right to expect a sympathetic
statement for the more than half a million Turks who were killed by
the Armenians in similar incidents. President Bush supported Turkey’s
initiative for the establishment of a committee of experts.
However, he failed to criticize the Armenians for failing to open
their archives. That has to be considered. Nor did President Bush
make a compassionate statement or extend condolences in connection
with the Turkish diplomats who were killed by the ASALA [Armenian
Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia] terrorists. It is as if
these incidents did not take place. Those who were lost were our
people. They were our most valuable people. The Armenian terrorists
killed our diplomats after Turkey’s operation in Cyprus. They
probably cooperated with the Greek Cypriot terrorists to do so. Why
has the world failed to react? Why have we failed to ask the foreign
countries to react to what has been done? Why have we failed to give
priority to that? We have a lot to say on the matter. An inclination
exists to accuse Turkey and force it to defend itself. However, we
should be the side to complain.”

BUDYONNOVSK RESIDENTS URGE LOCAL DUMA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, APRIL 27. ARMINFO. Residents of Buyonnovsk, Stavropol region,
Russia, rallied Apr 24 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in
Ottoman Turkey, reports Yerkramas, Krasnodar-based newspaper of
Russian Armenians.
The ralliers urged the local Duma to recognize the Genocide. They
compared it with the events of 1995 when Budyonnovsk was attacked by
Chechen fighters led by Shamil Basayev.
It was symbolic that victim to the terrorist act then became citizens
of Russia and Armenia. The Budyonnovsk tragedy has proved that
unrestrained in 1915 the founders of “Halifat” have not given up the
anti-human plans they started in Apr 24 1915.
“Paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
on its 90th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the Budyonnosk
tragedy we urge you, dear Duma deputies, to condemn the Genocide as an
outrageous act against humanity,” said the ralliers.
Present at the rally were the mayor of Budyonnovsk, local DUma
deputies, Cossacks.
NOTE: The town of Surb Khach (Holy Cross, now Budyonnovsk) was founded
in 1799 by Armenians from Karabakh in accordance with the charter by
Russian Emperor Paul I.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
April 27 2005
Europe Should Face Itself in Turkey’s Mirror
NEVVAL SEVINDI
04.27.2005 Wednesday – ISTANBUL 02:05
At this time of the season, purple flowers bloom more fully in all
corners of the Bosphorous, and purple clusters, enchanted because
spring is coming at full speed, twine around.
Being in Istanbul is a privilege under the shadow of purple clusters.
Philosopher, anthropologist and sociologist Edgar Morin, was in
Istanbul last weekend. He showed everyone how an intellectual can do
brain gymnastics, how he shares wisdom and blooms like the purple
flowers in Istanbul.
Morin says, “Love is part of a life poem,” and he himself has proven
the fact that if one does not know anything about poems, he/she
cannot be a scientist. If Turks, who come from a culture whose
Sultans even had a “divan,” are outsiders in Europe, then Europe also
needs to look at itself in the mirror. Morin argues Turkey should
face its history on the Armenian issue.
However, he adds that the same should be done by France and the whole
of Europe regarding the Jews, and Britain regarding the Irish: “How
can one ignore the role of Islamic culture in European civilization?
That small minority did want to include an article about Christianity
but failed.” Honestly, even if he says so, Pope Benedict XVI did not
promise much hope in the first homily he delivered, without
mentioning Muslims. Those who identify Europe with Christian culture
do not want Turkey. Those afraid of a confrontation the most are
against Turks. Have those Westerners, who say Turkey should face its
history, faced their own history? Why did European travelers who
destroyed many great cultures, languages and beliefs, with the help
of their people, want to explore the world? To take all the wealth to
their country! Why are Europeans, who imposed Christianity as the one
and only religion on societies, so anxious that we face our past? Is
it because they failed to face theirs? Despite all efforts by
intolerant Europeans, Turks climb a 200-meter hill on the way to
Saint George Orthodox Church in Istanbul, together with Christians
and Muslims. Countless Muslims, on every April 23, ask the priest to
pray for them, hoping for treatment of their ailments and fulfillment
of their wishes. This is an amazing sense of empathy. The blind
followers, who are against this, have sent the municipal police
there. These officials, who are unaware of the soul of this thing,
are assigned to cut the ribbons! Within the yells and squeals, the
women were saying, “Our wishes will not be accepted because of you.”
It is not our duty to judge the people’s beliefs here, but the
ability to pray side by side and the fraternity among nations.
Europeans are not very familiar with this ability. They have been
after sharing since the beginning of the 19th century. They do not
see the “people” around but only race, religion and discrimination.
Europeans, who are busy setting double standard snares, are now
lagging far behind the idea of humanism.
“We are undertaking an indefinite adventure and the events that
happen every day tell us this is ‘night and fog’ that we are in,'”
writes Morin, depicting our time very well.
This ambiguity has gotten foggy as a result of the rise in
nationalism and racism in Europe. Nationalism waves coming from China
and Russia narrate the adventure of a world, which is becoming more
localized, as it becomes more globalized.
Germans are converting to Islam and establishing umbrella
organizations. The German state has decided that Islam would be
better explained only by them. It is only the Muslim Germans, who can
put a stop to the rise in racism by claiming to be the guardians of
Islam. The Germans think the Turks are Muslim bigots, and say, “This
is not Islam.”
Like the Germans, who ignore humanity’s values, sincerity and
human-centered humanistic Islam, that we have been spreading around
the world, there are many youths who belittle this Islamic approach
and also try to politicize us. These mentalities, which are as far
from the idea of Islam as to say, “Do not even smell a flower that
can awaken your worldly desires,” have tried to break us away from
Islam. However, this soul neither breaks away nor dies.
“You cannot change everything you face and you cannot also change
anything without facing it.” It is time for us to face old dogmas,
old mentality structures. It is more essential for the EU, which
cannot expand or perhaps will even receive a blow from the French.
Swedish Prime Minister [Goran Persson], on his first ever visit to
Turkey, expressed this very well: “It is odd that no Swedish prime
minister had ever visited such an important country until today and
this is the real question that should be asked.” It is time to say
something odd.
*James Baldwin

PRESS RELEASE
Hamazkayin-Boston
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
phone: 617.924.8849
email: [email protected]
web:
Contact: Ara Nazarian
The 1600 Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet: What is the state of the
Armenian Education in Diaspora, and are we prepared for the Challenges
of the Future?
WATERTOWN, MA — April 27, 2005 — This public program (open and free
for all) will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2005, at 3:00 PM at the
Armenian Library and Museum of America [65 Main Street, Watertown, MA].
In celebration of the creation of the Armenian Alphabet 1600 years ago
by Saint Mesrop Mashtots and the encouragement of Saint Sahag Bartev,
Hamazkayin-Boston is presenting a panel discussion as part of its Free
Forum series. The principals and PTO representatives of all local area
Armenian schools will comprise the discussion panel, and Mr. Garbis
Kojanian and Ms. Anahis Mekenajian of Hamazkayin-Boston will be the
moderators. The moderators will spend a few minutes on the story of the
discovery of the alphabet and present highlights of its evolution
through the ages, and then each panelist will present a 5-minute
presentation on their school’s activities and their thoughts for the
future of their respective institutions. Following these presentations,
the floor will be open for discussion between the audience, the
panelists and the moderators. We encourage the audience to be active
participants in this event and be prepared to ask questions and discuss
varying points of view.
Designed to highlight varying points of view concerning the resolution
of issues important to the Boston Armenian community, Free Forum (/Azad
Bem in Armenian/) will offer at least one more program during 2005. The
future program will focus on The Armenian Church: Past, Present and its
Future Direction.
A summary of the discussions and opinions expressed during all Forums
will be available at our website
<;. It is anticipated that the May 1, 2005 program will attract a large cross-section of our community, as the question of Armenian education in Diaspora and the perpetuation of our educational and cultural heritage is of utmost importance to all Armenian-Americans. Hamazkayin-Boston hopes the Forum will provide a constructive environment to respond to critical questions such as: how to keep our language alive in a fast changing world dominated by `super power' languages, how to proceed with Eastern and Western Armenian language education at our schools, how best to equip our younger generation with the skills to complement Armenian and English speaking in their daily lives and many other questions. For more information about this and other Hamazkayin projects, or to join and support the organization visit or email us at mailto:[email protected]. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress