Author: Hambardsumian Paul

RECALLED AMBASSADOR RETURNS TO US, SEES POSITIVE PROSPECTS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 22 2007

The Turkish ambassador to the US is to return to Washington, D.C.,
after being recalled to Ankara as part of Turkish reactions to a
vote on a controversial resolution at a US congressional committee;
before his departure he expressed cautious optimism that the "Armenian
resolution" issue would be resolved.

Turkish Ambassador to the United States Nabi Þensoy, who had been
recalled to Ankara "for political consultations" over the so-called
Armenian resolution after its passage at the US House Committee on
Foreign Affairs, answered reporters’ questions in the VIP hall of
Ataturk Airport in Ýstanbul before flying to New York.

Noting that he had been recalled to Turkey by the government and had
talks in Ankara for nine days, Þensoy stated that met with President
Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, Parliament Speaker
Koksal Toptan, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and high-ranking officials
from the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, providing them
with information on the current state of affairs and participating
in several activities at the Foreign Ministry.

"After nine days I am now returning to my post. I think the time I
was in Ankara is a good message that shows the disappointment Turkey
felt with respect to the passage of resolution No. 106 in the US
House committee. Now I am going back to Washington to follow up on
developments not only on this issue but also on other issues. The
talks I had in Turkey were very useful. I will continue to promote
Turkish-US relations," he said.

When Þensoy was asked what his attempts will be with regards to
terrorism and the related issue of northern Iraq, the ambassador
said: "The Foreign Ministry and the government will take necessary
measures. I will act in accordance with my instructions."

Regarding the message he will convey to US officials, Þensoy said:
"My most important message will be to explain the great disappointment
and frustration that the developments over the Armenian resolution
caused among the Turkish people. I will convey the sensitivities
of Mr. President and the government officials to them once again. I
will tell them of Turkey’s expectations and the serious troubles that
any further move in this process will cause in Turkish-US and other
relations. I hope that such warnings will not be needed. Indeed,
as far as I see, there has been a reversal of the wind. I expect
this issue will not be taken any further." Following these remarks,
Þensoy flew to New York on a scheduled Turkish Airlines (THY) fight.

–Boundary_(ID_+GPIQcNe75jVFz701H+xaQ)–

LEADER OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANS TO SPEAK AND RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE HERE FRIDAY

UST Bulletin Today, MN

mas.edu/bulletin/news/200743/Monday/Armenia10_22_0 7.cfm
Oct 22 2007

His Holiness Karekin II, the spiritual leader of the world’s 9
million Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians, will give an address
and receive an honorary degree Friday, Oct. 26, at the University of
St. Thomas.

His Holiness will give the talk at 10:30 a.m. in the Schulze Grand
Atrium of the School of Law on the university’s downtown Minneapolis
campus. The event is open to the public.

Elected "Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of Armenia and of All
Armenians" in 1999, His Holiness is visiting St. Thomas and the Twin
Cities as part of a tour of more than a dozen U.S. cities in October.

("Catholicos," from a Greek word meaning "universal," is the highest
ecclesiastical title in the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church.)

Born Ktrij Nersissian in Voskehat, Armenia, in 1951, he was ordained
a celibate priest and received his priestly name, Karekin, in 1972.

He continued his studies in Austria, Germany and Russia, and was
consecrated a bishop in 1983 and elevated to archbishop in 1992. He
is the 132nd in a continuous line of Catholicoi dating back to 301
when Armenia became the first nation to declare Christianity as its
national religion.

About 1,150 Minnesotans are from Armenia or of Armenian descent; most
of them live in the Twin Cities. The state’s only Armenian Apostolic
Orthodox church, the St. Sahag Armenian Church, was established
five years ago. It is located at 203 Howell Street N., not far from
St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus.

His Holiness will participate in a service at the church at 7
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25. The service will be followed by a public
reception at 8 p.m. All are welcome; for more information call (651)
603-1940.

Armenia is a landlocked former Soviet republic about the size of
the state of Maryland. It borders Turkey on the west, Azerbaijan on
the east, Iran on the south and Georgia on the north. After gaining
independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenians dealt with the
results of a catastrophic earthquake, a two-year power outage and a
collapse of their infrastructure.

His Holiness has been active in helping his country rebuild after the
earthquake struck Armenia in 1988. Since his election as Catholicos,
he has been reorganizing the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church:
building and restoring its churches, monasteries and seminaries;
visiting church and government leaders throughout the word; and
strengthening ecumenical ties.

St. Thomas has a growing number of ties with Armenia, in part because
of a friendship between the Rev. Dennis Dease, St. Thomas’ president,
and Gerard Cafesjian, a retired West Publishing executive who is
president of the Minneapolis-based Cafesjian Family Foundation.

Cafesjian, who is of Armenian descent, and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting Armenian-oriented
philanthropy, are collaborating with St. Thomas on several fronts.

Dr. Thomas Rochon, executive vice president and chief academic officer
at St. Thomas, traveled to Armenia last April to explore partnerships
in the fields of business, law and journalism.

St. Thomas student Anne Marie Iddins, center, works with Vincent Lima,
editor of the Armenian Reporter, and intern Elyssa Karanian at the
newspaper’s office on Aug. 22 in Yerevan, Armenia.

In August three St. Thomas journalism professors visited Armenia to
work on media-literacy, Web-training and public relations projects in
the fledgling democracy. The faculty members were Dr. Wendy Wyatt,
Dr. Mark Neuzil and Mike O’Donnell. A senior, Annemarie Iddins,
joined them on the trip.

Their visit included time at the English-language Armenian Reporter,
a New Jersey-based weekly newspaper that is edited in Armenia but
printed and distributed in the United States and Canada. They worked
with the newspaper staff on design, style, writing and editing,
Web sites and software.

Several St. Thomas journalism students have become involved with the
Armenian Reporter. Iddins, Pam Hendrickson, Jeff Day, Stephanie Edquist
and Jennie Betchwars have been writing stories for the newspaper.

Public relations students Brandon Fredrickson and Bridget Jewell were
also involved in a research project for the paper.

In another initiative supported by the Cafesjian Family Foundation,
a deacon and a priest from Armenia are in residence this year at the
St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity of the University of St. Thomas.

The Very Rev. Father Zaven Yazichyan is pursuing a master’s in
counseling psychology at the university and Deacon Manuk Malkhasyan
is studying for a master’s in theology at the School of Divinity.

More Armenians are expected to study at the seminary in coming years.

St. Thomas in recent years has hosted talks and symposiums on
Armenia. National and international scholars participated in a "Tribute
to Armenia" program in 2001 and a "Windows on the Armenian Genocide"
symposium in 2003.

AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL PARTIES SUPPORT TURKEY WITH REGARD TO LATEST PROCESSES

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 22 2007

"All states should support Turkey in anti-terror operations," deputy
executive secretary of New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Mubariz Gurbanli
told APA. He said that Azerbaijan has always supported Turkey in all
the issues and will continue to support the brother state.

"The US government states that Turkey should solve this problem with
Iraqi government. But I think that, if the US has declared fight
against terrorism as its first policy, it should understand and defend
it," he said.

Chairman of Citizen Solidarity Party, MP Sabir Rustamkhanli noted that
support of the Armenian genocide in the US, George Bush’s protesting
to Turkish Army’s entering Northern Iraq and Barzani and Talabani’s
threatening Turkey are connected with one another.

"At last, Turkish parliament passed a right decision. Unfortunately,
Turkish present pro-American government still awaits the US’s advice,"
he said.

Sabir Rustamkhanli considers that Azerbaijan should give only moral
support to Turkey concerning this issue.

"Turkey does not need other support," he said.

"PKK terrorists are carrying out terrorist acts against Turkey from
the territories under the control of the US. The US should neutralize
them in its territories, or should not impede Turkey. Unfortunately,
the US does not fulfill its duties and tries to refrain Turkey from
carrying our military operations," leader of Azerbaijan National
Independence Party Etibar Mammadov told APA. He said that Turkey has
the right to carry out military operations against PKK and it is in
line with the international norms.

"PKK is a dangerous terrorist grouping for the region. Azerbaijan
should support Turkey," he said.

Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli noted that
over 30,000 people were killed as a result of PKK’s actions. Noting
that there are a lot of approaches with regard to PKK in the world,
the party chief said as a result of it Turkey is obliged to fight
face to face against PKK.

"The countries of the world stated the importance of civil countries’
joint fight against terrorism. Turkey has the right to take severe
measures and attack on the military base of a grouping. Strategic
alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey should be demonstrated in
the solution of daily problems. Azerbaijan and Turkey should have
intensive talks over this situation," he said. As to the position of
US in this issue, Ali Karimli stated that US chairs struggle coalition
against terrorism.

"US should demonstrate principal approach to all terror organizations,"
he said.

Chairman of Musavat Party Isa Gambar regards decisions made by Turkish
government, Grand National Assembly of Turkey and President on struggle
against terrorism necessary.

"Struggle should be carried out against terrorism and severe measures
should be taken against PKK. Azerbaijan should support Turkey in this
issue," he said.

As to the position of US, Party chairman underlined that this state
made sound statements against terrorism.

"But US had to react operatively to this issue when Turkey raised
an issue regarding PKK. But US did not react so, and it caused death
and injury of hundreds of people," he said.

Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party Serdar Jalaloglu underlined
that no any country of the world publicly support terrorism.

"Turkey should clear those forces. Azerbaijan, Turkey and all
anti-terror coalition states should support Turkey," he said.

Chairman of Umid Party, MP Igbal Agazadeh underlined that PKK was
a threat for the whole region. This organization can cause problems
for the great projects in the region.

"Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran can be involved here. The region
states should take joint measures for preventing this threat," he said.

Chairman of Great Establishment Party Fazil Gazanfaroglu stressed
that Turkey’s starting military operations is a main step and Turkey
should continue it.

"Azerbaijan should support Turkey in this issue," he said.

Un bistrot arménien saccagé à Saint-Josse

Le Soir
lundi 22.10.2007, 08:02

Plusieurs dizaines de personnes, probablement d’origine turque, ont
complètement saccagé lundi matin, peu après minuit, un bistrot tenu
par un Arménien dans la chaussée de Louvain, à Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode,
a indiqué La Première lundi. Les dégts matériels sont importants.
L’incident, qui n’a pas fait de blessé, serait lié aux événements
survenus dimanche dans le sud-est de la Turquie où 32 rebelles kurdes
et une douzaine de soldats turcs ont été tués dans des combats près de
la frontière irakienne.

La police est intervenue et est restée sur place pour maîtriser la
situation. Elle devrait communiquer sur ces incidents dans le courant
de la matinée, a ajouté La Première

il_info/index.shtml

Erdogan calls for rapprochement with Armenia

armradio.am
20.10.2007 12:52

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for dialogue and
reconciliation with Armenia on Friday, as the US Congress weighs
whether to approve a resolution declaring the 1915 killings of
Anatolian Armenians genocide, Today’s Zaman informs.

`While we search for ways to address this painful issue and develop our
relations with Armenia, we cannot live in the past. Our sincere offer
for dialogue and reconciliation is on the table,’ Erdogan wrote in an
opinion piece published in Friday’s Wall Street Journal, European
edition. `It is incumbent on Armenia to take the next step,’ he added.

`The truth is that the Armenian allegations of genocide pertaining to
the events of 1915 have not been historically or legally
substantiated,’ Erdogan wrote, questioning in his opinion piece why
Armenia was evading Turkey’s offer to establish a joint history
commission to together examine the events of 1915 through bilateral
dialogue.

The source notes that Armenia says it would consider taking part in
such a history commission if its border with Turkey were opened and
normal diplomatic ties were established between the two countries.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bundestag members laid wreath to Armenian Genocide victims memorial
20.10.2007 15:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Delegation of the Bundestag’s Germany-South Caucasus
parliamentary group led by Social Democrat Steffen Reiche was in
Armenia October 17-20.

This morning the delegation members laid a wreath to the memorial to
Armenian Genocide victims in Tsitsernakaberd and attended the Museum
of Armenian Genocide, the RA MFA press office said.

40 THOUSAND FAMILIES HAVE NO PERMANENT PLACE OF RESIDENCE CURRENTLY IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of homeless families
increases year by year in Armenia: 40 thousand families have no
permanent place of residence at present in Armenia. Armen Avetisian,
the Head of the Armenian Habitat organization’s Yerevan Office, said
this at the October 19 action under the title "I live in a cottage"
held on the organization’s initiative. He said that the organization
has been implementing a program aimed at providing assistance to those
families for already seven years. 360 families have been provided with
apartments so far thanks to the organization.

A. Avetisian also said that the Armenian Habitat implements "A house
for every family" program. According to him, the program’s main goal is
to involve local self-government bodies in this process. "It would be
desirable if 5% budget of local self-government bodies were spent on
building apartments for homeless families," A. Avetisian said adding
that they are conducting negotiations with village heads, councillor
members for that purpose. The latters, according to him, have promised
to provide 5-10% of 2008 budget for building those apartments.

Information booklets and posters were given out, a small performance
dedicated to the life of a homeless family was shown, in particular,
within the framework of the action.

DESTABILIZING ALLIANCES OR TELLING THE TRUTH?
By Luke Gublo

Michigan Technological University Online Lode, MI
Oct 17 2007

This week brought about another foreign policy challenge for the
Bush Administration. They have plenty as it is, of course, with the
continuation of an Iraq policy that is overwhelmingly unpopular with
the American people. This week, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign
Affairs passed a bill that would end the United States’ complicity
in Turkey’s denial of what many feel was genocide committed against
Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The vote was 27-21 in favor of
the bill, with Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Republican Presidential candidate
Ron Paul (R-TX) not voting.

This particular vote has raised some concern in Washington regarding
its relations with Turkey. The vote has quite literally brought
relations to a grinding halt, which is not a good thing for the Bush
Administration, since Turkey plays a vital role in the Middle East by
sharing a border with Iraq. Not only would a diplomatic shutdown close
this supply route for the military, but there’s always the possibility
that Turkey could send troops over the border and destabilize the
Kurdish region of Iraq. Undoubtedly, there is major reason to be
concerned over this.

Morally speaking, however, it really doesn’t say much for America as
a country to deny what is possibly one of the most ghastly events of
the 20th century. Over 750,000 Armenians lost their lives after being
forcibly deported to concentration camps. Many died along the way,
while many lost their lives after being poisoned, shot or burned
alive at the concentration camps.

Furthermore, it’s no secret that Adolf Hitler took some inspiration
from what the Ottoman Empire did to the Armenian people. In somewhat
of a moral justification for his plans for Europe and his belief that
he would not be held accountable for what he would do to the Jewish
people, Hitler famously uttered, "Who, after all, speaks today of
the annihilation of the Armenian People?"

Ultimately, this presents the Bush Administration with a moral
dilemma. Should America deny that this event was indeed genocide and
acquiesce to the desires of a strategic ally, or should we do what is
morally right and recognize the acts committed by the Ottoman Empire
for what they were?

Of course, realizing the need for good diplomatic ties with a
strategic ally, the Bush Administration has chosen to oppose the
Armenian Genocide Bill. I find this quite unfortunate. Although we
would indeed anger Turkey by signing this bill into law, it is morally
indefensible for America to deny the Armenian genocide.

Bush wasn’t always against the idea of genocide being committed
against the Armenian people. At a campaign stop in Chicago prior to his
election in 2000, Bush had many different feelings about this issue.

"The Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies
comprehension and commands all decent people to remember and
acknowledge the facts and lessons of an awful crime in a century of
bloody crimes against humanity," said Bush. "If elected President, I
would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering
of the Armenian people."

What has changed so much since then that we must deny this gruesome
event? Undoubtedly, our standing in the Middle East will be hurt by
losing ties with Turkey, but America must take a moral stand here. If
America is to stand as a soldier in the fight against tyranny, it
must condemn tyranny when it is so painfully obvious.

leId=907

AT SECOND CONGRESS OF ARMENIANS OF EUROPE IT WAS DECIDED TO APPLY TO EU RAISING ALL ISSUES ARMENIA IS ANXIOUS ABOUT

Noyan Tapan
Oct 18 2007

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The second congress of Armenians
of Europe organized by the Hay Dat Committee of Europe in Brussels had
an exclusive result and importance in the work done with the European
Union, European Commission, and other important structures. This was
the evaluation of almost all participants of the congress. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent, who also took part in the congress, reported, the
congress was very representative. Prominent deputies of the European
Parliament, Joseph Daul, Franco Frattini, heads of Armenian churches,
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, and others spoke on the first day.

The main subject of the discussions was the issue of the Armenian
Genocide.

All speakers mentioned the necessity of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. It was proposed to find ways of exerting
pressure upon Turkey by EU, stopping the blockade of recognition of
the Genocide and the blockade of Armenia. The participants held the
same opinion that the level of democracy and human rights protection
is insufficient in Turkey.

Karla Karapetian’s film "The Screamers" was shown at the end of
the first day. A discussion with author’s participation took place
after it.

The second day of the congress was more strained. Besides co-thinkers,
Ria Oomen-Ruijten, a reporter on the issue of Turkey in EU,
also spoke. The fact that the latter’s evaluations were unbiassed
was questioned during the discussions and a decision was made to
apply to EU for the purpose of drawing a special attention to Mrs
Oomen-Ruijten’s report. Deputies of the European Parliament, Hugues
Mingarelli, Sabine Freizer, and Piter Semnebi also made speeches. The
speech of Turkish doctor Charles Tannuk was also listened to with
interest and was highly evaluated. His speech distinguished itself
with its being unbiassed and balanced. The speech of Sabine Freizer,
a reporter on Georgian national minorities and on Javakhk issue,
was also unprecedented in this respect. The latter’s serious anxiety
in the issue of policy carried on by the current Georgian authorities
to national minorities and especially to Armenians and in particular,
their horror in the issue of giving autonomy to national minorities
was felt in the speech.

The congress made an important decision, to apply to EU and to raise
all issues Armenia is anxious about.

STORMY RAIN EXPECTED IN ARMENIA ON OCTOBER 17-18

Noyan Tapan
Oct 17 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A stormy rain and thunder-storm
is expected in certain regions of Armenia on October 17 evening and
October 18 morning. The strength of wind will be 23-28 m/s, hailstone
is possible in certain regions. This information was provided to
Noyan Tapan by the "Hydromet" service.