Author: Hambardsumian Paul

PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS NEED COMPLEX REFORMS: LAW "ON PRE-SCHOOL
EDUCATION" MUST SOLVE PROBLEMS OF SPHERE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. 900 pre-school institutions function
in Armenia at present. 225 of them are in Yerevan. 66 thousand
children are involved in those institutions. Among the marzes, the
marz of Ararat has the most, 115 pre-school institutions, and the marz
of Vayots Dzor has the fewest, 18 institutions.

As Melsida Sargsian, the chief specialist of the pre-school department
of the RA Ministry of Education and Science stated in the interview to
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, there are at all no pre-school
institutions in 448 communities of Armenia today, and there are
buildings in 338 ones but they do not function. In these institutions
envisaged for children from 0-6 years old, their involvement has the
following picture: attendance of 1-4 year old children makes 6.75%,
and of 5-6 year old children makes 20.0%.

In M.Sargsian’s words, the law "On Pre-School Education" has already
been adopted which will regulate the problems gathered in the
sphere. In her words, after fall of the Soviet orders, no joint
directed state policy was implemented in this sphere of education. The
present pre-school institutions are put into operation and financed by
communities. Every community itself decides the size of the
institution employee’s salary and the size of the payment for one
child’s attendance. In total, the highest payment is 5-7 thousand
drams for one child, and the lowest reaches 2.5 thousand drams. The
size of the money is defined at the community councillors’ council.

M.Sargsian is sure that pre-school institutions today need complex
reforms. "Pre-school institutions today continue working according to
the Soviet Union standards. It is necessary to work out flexible
programs, methodological literature on implementation of their
activity, introduce short-term and alternative ways of work which will
assist increase of children’s involvement," the chief specialist
finds.

According to her estimation, today pre-school institutions must solve
few primary problems: assist the child’s all-round development,
prepare the child for school and assist families in the issue of the
child’s education.

The Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF implement already for
the second year a program of parents’ education where parents having
children at the age of 0-6 are taught what a child at that age needs,
how their bringing up and education must be organized.

"Children at this age are interested in a toy and game. It is
necessary to implement whole their daily life, sleep, busy time,
education, with the help of various toys and games," M.Sargsian
emphasized.

She also stated that an alternative program on pre-school education is
being experienced in the marz of Ararat what is envisaged for parents
and children of rural settlements. During the period of field works in
summer months pre-school institutions must work in two shifts, in
evening hours as well.

SPORT COMMENTATOR SUREN BAGHDASARIAN’S CAR EXPLODED

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. At night of January 29, sport
commentator, Football+ weekly’s founder Suren Baghdasarian’s private
Prado car was exploded in his garage. To recap, in summer last year
the same car of Suren Baghdasarian parked near the petrol filling
station in Arshakunyats Avenue was partly burnt.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
Jan 30 2007

Armenian Jews applaud genocide bill

The Jewish community of Armenia applauded the Armenian genocide
resolution introduced by U.S. lawmakers.

U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.),
George Radanovich (R-Calif.) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) announced
Tuesday the introduction of legislation calling on President Bush and
his administration to recognize the Armenian genocide.

Leaders of Armenia’s small Jewish community praised the resolution
and expressed solidarity with the approximately 1.5 million ethnic
Armenians killed between 1915-17, `because the histories of our
people are similar and we too have gone through discrimination,
tragedy and a genocide.’

The bill was brought to the House in 2006, but was tabled by
then-Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) The statement of support from
Armenia’s Jewish community comes at a time of increased tensions
between Turkey and Armenia, after the recent murder of a prominent
Turkish journalist of Armenian descent, Hrant Dink.

Dink had written extensively on the genocide, which the Turkish
government insists was the result of inter-ethnic strife and famine.

The refusal to acknowledge the genocide has become a major sticking
point in Turkey’s proposed ascension to the E.U.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Jan 30 2007

Corpse-Lotto: How Many Armenians Killed?
Sedat Laciner

Tuesday , 30 January 2007

During World War I, like all other groups, so many people among
Armenians lost their lives, and many of them were forced to leave
their homes. However, the dispute on how many Armenians died during
the war is the maybe one of the most complicated debates in the
world.

Comparing the various historians’ answers to the question of `how
many Armenians died’ is really difficult. Each historian, Turkish,
Armenian or from any other origin, reaches quite surprising results.
One says 1 million, the other says 2 millions. It is worse than
guessing the true numbers in lotto; at least you have just 49 numbers
in lotto. Turkish historians and their formal institutions try to
show these numbers as low as they can. Among these people, there are
some historians who say this number is below 200.000 while some
others can increase the number to 400.000 etc. And there are also
people who draw down the number to even 10.000. But, even the Turkish
historians cannot reach a mutual understanding. Almost every number
between 10.000 and 800.000 people have mentioned in Turkey. If you
regard Orhan Pamuk as a `Turkish historian’ (!), it is possible to
increase this estimation up to 1.5 million people.

If you look at the numbers of the Armenian side, you surprise more.
The numbers start from 500.000 and increase up to 1 million, 1.5
million even 2 millions. In recent years, in one of the meetings in
Wales, the Armenians have increased the number up to 2.5 millions.
Henceforward, it cannot be known that, if this number is going to be
increased up to 3 millions, 4 millions, or even over the total
population of Ottoman Empire at that period.

Unfortunately, the debates on the number of the killed Armenians
resemble the auction rooms. But with one difference, while Armenians
increase the number, Turkish people tries to decrease it…

`1 million…’

`There is someone who gives 1.1 million …’

`Yes, they say 1.5 millions. Who increases it?’

`Mr. Pamuk, they say 1.5 millions. Do you increase this number? Or
you Mr.? Isn’t there any historian who increases the number? Isn’t
there any scientist who increases the number?’

***

The scene is cursorily awful. The policy is made on the corpses.
So-called historians, play corpse-lotto. There is not a single person
who is abashed of this. The people who say 2.5 million people died
and who say 500.000 people died can argue with a same tone of voice…
However, this is very clear: some people lie without blushing. They
also lie without scruple. They are not abashed of this… They make
business on the corpses, in order to defend their benefits they use,
they abuse the corpses.

***

`500.000. Isn’t there anybody who decrease it?’

`There is someone who says 400.000. Yes, is there someone who
decrease to 300.000? Isn’t there any professor who decrease the
number, isn’t there any historian who decrease it to 10.000 even less
than that?

If there are this much different numbers, some people anyhow lie. Or,
some people do not fulfill the requirements of their jobs. If there
are tens of dead-toll, we cannot say `historian’ to the so-called
historians who speak. It also cannot be said `the historians should
come together and solve this problem ‘. It’s necessary for the
historians who are at this picture not to appear on the scene, not to
show themselves…

Another 24 April is close again … And, again the number of the people
who play corpse-lotto increases … People who want to satisfy their
interests and desires are going to give an estimate one more time and
they are going to call it `science’ … Let’s see this year; up to what
number will the Armenian researchers increase the number…

By the way, how many Turks and Armenians live right now to live
together, any guess?

—
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat LACINER: Director of the USAK (International
Strategic Research Organization, Ankara & Davos Economic Forum Young
Global leader 2006.

[email protected]
translated by Zerin Acar and Kemal Tuzcu (JTW)

id=2450

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: THE SKY NOT TO FALL DOWN IN CASE OF UNSUCCESSFULL
ELECTIONS BUT THE COUNTRY TO MISS A VERY IMPORTANT POSSIBILITY FOR ITS
DEVELOPMENT

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. After officially making public soon
the date of holding the parliamentary elections of Armenia, a
consultation will be held at the country President’s Office on the
occasion of inviting international observers. RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian stated about it at the January 29 press
conference, responding the journalists’ question. In his words, the
list of organizations to be invited will be defined and according to
it, the state structures to be invited will be decided.

At the journalists’ request touching upon the demand of holding the
coming elections in correspondence with the international standards,
T.Torosian again attached importance to the necessity of parties’
displaying political will. In his opinion, the parties must
completely understand that the coming elections have an exclusive
meaning for Armenia. In his words, "the sky will not fall down" in the
case of unsuccessful elections, but Armenia will miss a too important
possibility for its development. In the speaker’s words, he himself is
sure that bad process of elections does not arise from interests of
any political forces, irrespective of the fact if that force is in the
opposition or among the authorities. He expressed a hope that
political forces will correctly estimate the situation and see
possibility of cooperation for the sake of good elections.

The NA Speaker mentioned on this occasion that during the meeting with
Christian Shtrohal, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights, who visited Yerevan recently, he
proposed to representatives of the NA factions to create a working
group which will make an attempt to coordinate work with the
observation missions, Central Electoral Commission, authorities. In
the case of possible alarms, the mentioned group will attempt to
initiate steps to correct the noticed faults. T.Torosian stated that a
preliminary agreement on cooperation with some of the factions heads
has already been reached, and the prospect of creation of the group
will be finally defined during the coming 10 days.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 26 2007

Turkish party official accuses "Westerners" of instigating murder of
journalist

Adana, 26 January: Grand Unity Party [BBP] Deputy General Chairman
Edip Ozbas charged that it was "Westerners" who instigated the
assassination of Agos General Publishing Manager Hrant Dink.

Speaking at a press conference in Adana where he was visiting his
party’s province organization, Ozbas said that certain circles have
been using Dink’s assassination as an excuse to bring out the
"poison" accumulated inside them against the Turkish nation.

Charging that Western states have pursued various objectives in
Turkey’s geography for many centuries, Ozbas said: "The same game is
being played today. We have never lost our faith that independent
judicial organs will lift the veil of secrecy behind the Dink murder,
which we condemn strongly. However, the real powers behind this
murder and similar acts of terror, the ones who instigate them, are
Westerners who have forced Turkey to adapt to the EU acquis."

Ozbas continued: "Politicians and so-called intellectuals who have
been trying to impose the EU acquis on Turkey irrationally for many
years bear primary responsibility for the murders, the muggings, and
the corruption that have been perpetrated, and the surrender of
[Turkish] lands to foreigners. Those who have levelled accusations
against the BBP and General Chairman Muhsin Yazicioglu will have to
give a reckoning in the future for what they have done to the
nation."

Answering a question, Ozbas said that Western states want Article 301
of the Constitution [as published] to be amended in accordance with
their wishes. He added: "[They want] insults against the Turkish
identity to be permitted but any remarks to the effect that ‘there
was no Armenian genocide’ to be a crime. This cannot be accepted. For
the past 84 years, the Turkish state has included in its constitution
provisions that protect it. It will preserve those provisions in the
future also."

TIME/in Partnership with CNN
Jan 25 2007

Ode to a Murdered Turkish Editor

Istanbul, Turkey
Dear Hrant,

Friday, Jan. 19. The day you were murdered. I stare at the TV, at
your tall, thin body lying dead on the sidewalk of a busy street in
Istanbul . You are in front of your office, the office of the
Turkish-Armenian weekly you worked so hard to launch and sustain. I
cannot take my eyes off the soles of your shoes. Worn out and tired,
your shoes are a mute response to all those ultranationalists who
accused you of being in the pay of the Armenian diaspora to disrupt
the status quo in Turkey .

I feel numb. And I know you wouldn’t approve of that. All your life
you have struggled to encourage both Turks and Armenians to shake off
the mutual numbness in their hearts so that they can start feeling
each other’s emotions and hearing each other’s words.

On the day you were finally given a passport, after being denied one
by the state for many years, you were as happy as a kid. "Can you
believe it?"

You said. "I can travel now!" And so you did, commuting between
America , Europe , Turkey and Armenia , bridging gaps that people on
all sides took for granted. Always a maverick, you never just gave
your audience what they wanted to hear. The myriad prejudices and
generalizations in the Armenian diaspora about Turkey and the Turks
frustrated you. "Yes, there are bigoted Turks," you would say, "but
there also countless progressive, open-minded ones, and they are my
friends, brothers and sisters."

The myriad prejudices and generalizations in Turkish society about
Armenians saddened you, too. You also wanted us Turks to break the
deep silence regarding the massacres and deportation of Armenians in
1915, to question our collective amnesia. Nevertheless, you fervently
opposed the Armenian genocide bill approved by the French Parliament,
which would make it a crime to say that the events of 1915 were not a
genocide, because, first and foremost, you believed in freedom of
expression. You said it was not up to Western politicians to write
our history. Turks and Armenians had to do that, build a dialogue
and, eventually, learn to reconcile.

You could have gone abroad to live in greater safety and comfort. But
you were passionate about Istanbul and would always say, "This city
belongs to us all, regardless of religion and ethnicity."

Tuesday, Jan. 23. The day we buried you. "Yes," you once said, "we
Turkish Armenians do have a claim to the soil of this country, but
not to take it away, as some accuse us of secretly plotting, but to
be buried deep under it." Your funeral was spectacular. Tens of
thousands marched. They carried signs that said, WE ARE ALL HRANT, WE
ARE ALL ARMENIANS.

The Turkish press, left and right, condemned your assassination. You
united people of all ideological backgrounds and made them recognize
their common faith in democracy.

At the Armenian cemetery, the crowd was asked to wait outside, but
people refused.

Muslims and Christians buried you together. On your gravestone there
sits a marble angel, her eyes turned toward the sky, as if awaiting
an explanation, or else, consolation. But that solace won’t come from
above. It will come from Turkey, from the land you loved.

ELIF SHAFAK

Shafak, a longtime friend of Dink’s, recently published her novel The
Bastard of Istanbul, about Turks and Armenians, in English

/0,9171,1582145,00.html?cnn=yes

MANUK GASPARIAN’S HEALTH CONDITION STABILIZES

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The health condition of RA MP Manuk
Gasparian, Chairman of Democratic Way Party, who is at Nairi medical
center, has become stable. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it from Party Vice-Chairman Vardan Grigorian.

In his words, efficient medical treatment has greatly contributed to
the deputy’s recovery "and the members of his party hope to see him
soon on the front line of political struggle." He also stated that
M.Gasparian was taken to hospital on January 20 with the diagnosis
of heart attack.

International Herald Tribune, France
Jan 20 2007

U.S. calls slaying of journalist tragic
The Associated PressPublished: January 19, 2007

WASHINGTON: The State Department said Friday the slaying of an
Armenian-Turkish journalist in Istanbul was a "tragic incident."

Deputy spokesman Tom Casey noted that Hrant Dink, 53, a Turkish
citizen, had received threats for his writing.

"Certainly we never want to see a situation in which individuals are
intimidated or in fact suffer retribution of any kind simply for
freely expressing their views," Casey said.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Jan 20 2007

ATAA Condemns The Killing Of Turkish Armenian Journalist, Hrant Dink
Washington, DC – The Assembly of Turkish Americans strongly condemns
the killing earlier today of Turkish Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink,
in Istanbul. The ATAA urges the Turkish Republic to dedicate its best
assets to the capture, trial and punishment of the perpetrator(s) of
this heinous murder.
The killing of Mr. Dink is a great loss to Turkey. Mr. Dink was the
editor of Agos, an Armenian-language newspaper in Istanbul, and also
wrote for the Turkish daily, Zaman. He was a respected member and
voice of Istanbul’s prosperous and growing Armenian community. He
advocated reconciliation on the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy of WWI.
Unfortunately, he was also the subject of prosecution for his
characterization of WWI Armenian deaths as genocide.

ATAA reaffirms that people are entitled to their own opinions and the
expression of the same. Turks are struggling for the same rights in
Europe and America.

The Turkish Court of Appeals was right to vacate the conviction and
remand the case that charged Dink under Law 301 for `insulting the
Turkish identity.’ ATAA is confident in Turkish democracy’s ability
to address the difficulties of Law 301.

ATAA expresses that the killing of Dink ranks among the worst acts
against the best interest of Turkey and regional peace and stability.
ATAA urges all concerned parties that the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy is
an extremely sensitive matter, the treatment of which requires the
utmost care not to fuel the flames of extremism, particularly at a
time when security, peace and stability in the Middle East is
critical.

ATAA mourns the death of this fellow countryman, Mr. Hrant Dink, and
the loss of this very important part of our community. We convey our
deepest sympathies to his family and friends, and to the people of
Turkey.