Author: Hambardsumian Paul

WATCHDOG GROUP: TURKEY, SERBIA JOURNALISTS’ SITUATION CAUSES CONCERN

Editor & Publisher
Feb 6 2007

VIENNA, Austria A regional media freedom watchdog said Tuesday it
is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for journalists in
southeastern Europe following the recent murder of an ethnic Armenian
journalist in Turkey.

Hrant Dink was gunned down in broad daylight Jan. 19 outside his
bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper, Agos. A 17-year-old Turkish
nationalist has been charged with his death.

Dink’s murder "shows once again that journalists may easily become
victims in the fight for press freedom and freedom of speech,"
the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organization, or SEEMO,
said in a statement.

SEEMO, a network of editors, media executives and journalists in
southeastern Europe, said Dink’s killing was a reminder that there
are still a number of unsolved cases of journalists killed in the
region because of their reporting, including three in Serbia. In the
statement, SEEMO called on Serbian officials to investigate those
murders, one of which it said dates back to 1994.

SEEMO also said it was alarmed by criminal defamation charges
laid against Dogan Harman, publisher and editor-in-chief of the
Turkish-Cypriot newspaper Kibrisli in December 2006.

"SEEMO believes that criminal defamation and insult laws are an
anachronism that should be removed from every legal system," the
statement said.

In addition, SEEMO also said it was concerned by the Romanian
Constitutional Court’s decision to annul a parliamentary decision
removing defamation from the country’s criminal code.

"SEEMO strongly condemns these threats and attacks, as well as any
government or state action that restricts the work and movement of
journalists," Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO’s secretary general, said in
the statement.

BAKU POSITION PROVES UNWILLINGNESS TO SETTLE CONFLICT PEACEFULLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2007 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri parliamentarians are under the pressure of
official Baku which rejects any possibility of cooperation between the
Armenian and Azeri parliaments before the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian
said at a meeting with OSCE PA President Goran Lennmarker, reports the
RA NA press office. Furthermore, Azerbaijan proceeds with anti-Armenian
and militaristic propaganda, Torosian said. "The Nagorno Karabakh
conflict won’t be settled unless Azerbaijan puts an end to such a
policy," he remarked adding that propaganda of war conflicts with the
OSCE fundamental principles and Baku’s position proves Azerbaijan’s
unwillingness to settle the problem peacefully. "It’s impossible to
speak of European integration and reject regional cooperation.

We appreciate highly the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group.’ Torosian
said. Armenia is ready for regional cooperation and expects adherence
to European values from all states of the region. The Nagorno Karabakh
problem is urgent and should not be used for achievement of any goals,
he resumed.

TELL US MORE ABOUT ARTUR BROTHERS, RAILA TELLS GOVT
By Peter Atsiaya

The Standard, Kenya
Feb 6 2007

Lang’ata MP Mr Raila Odinga wants the Kiruki report touching on the
controversial Artur brothers and the presence of mercenaries in Kenya,
made public.

Raila said that several months after the commission completed its
investigations on the alleged Armenians’ presence in the country,
the Government has not released its findings to the public.

"Kenyans are eager to know the commission’s findings on the two
brothers who posed a security risk," said Raila.

Addressing a campaign rally at Kapsoas in Ainamoi constituency,
Kericho District on Sunday, Raila said the Government should clear
its name on the Artur brothers’ saga.

He said: "The Government was adversely mentioned in the Artur brothers’
saga and it should come out clear over the issue."

MPs, Mr Joseph Nyaga, Mr Kipkalya Kones, Mr Ochilo Ayacko, Prof Ayiecho
Olweny, Mr Peter Odoyo and ODM-Kenya leaders, Mr Odunga Mamba and
Mr Tony Gachoka, accompanied the Lang’ata MP. Raila said he revealed
the presence of the Artur brothers and their dirty missions but the
Government dismissed him.

The MP noted the Government spent taxpayers’ money on the commission
and it should make its report public.

He questioned why the Government had stopped pursuing the Armenians’
saga for them to face the law. The Armenians are believed to be behind
the raid at The Standard premises that left a trail of destruction.

Los Angeles Times, CA
Feb 4 2006

What did we say about the Armenian genocide as it was happening?

Since Armenian-genocide publishing issues are always popular for
vigorous debate, and since there were at least two big related bits
of news this week — Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) reintroducing the
non-binding genocide-recognition resolution, plus the ongoing and
haunting fallout from the Hrant Dink assassination — we thought it
might be interesting to see how the L.A. Times editorialized about
the Armenian genocide as it was happening.

The first of five snippets from separate editorials comes from Dec.
18, 1917:

THE END OF TURKEY

There is as much cause for including Turkey and Bulgaria in our
declaration of war as there is for including Austria Hungary. There
are as good reasons for the extinction of the Ottoman empire as thee
are for the overthrow of the government of the Kaiser. For 500 years
the Turks have been a curse to Christendom, engaged in war after war
and massacre after massacre. […]

At least half of the Armenian people have been slaughtered in cold
blood and the remnant is only preserved now because a large part of
Armenia has falled under Russian control and the other Armenians have
taken refuge there.

Four more, after the jump.

Continuing with our contemporaneous Armenian-genocide editorials,
here’s one from Feb. 26, 1918:

When a peace of victory is finally achieved Germany must answer for
her inhumanities in Belgium; Austria for the depopulation of Serbia,
and Turkey for the almost total annihilation of the Armenians. […]

If the war continues for another year with Serbia in possession of
its arch enemies, it will be impossible to repatriate the Serbian
people, for it will have ceased to exist. The same is true to an
equal extent with Armenia; but the slaughter has been greater there
because the population was greater. In six years the native
population of Armenia has sunk from 16,000,000 persons to less than
800,000. Those who have approved this policy of extermination must be
made to settle. The German, Austrian and Turkish peoples have
approved and taken part in this wholesale murder; they should be
forced to pay a huge indemnity.

March 3, 1918:

When the President said the peoples should not be bartered about from
sovereignty to sovereignty, he had in mind the combined force and
intrigue by which Germany holds Alsace-Lorraine today, by which
Austria continues to dominate and enslave Hungary, and by which
Turkey is depopulating Armenia and Arabia.

May 28, 1919:

Armenians for centuries have been ceaselessly disinherited and
destroyed. So today even in Armenia proper they are hopelessly
outnumbered by the Turks and Kurds. Either these Turks and Kurds
would have to be violently deported or some stronger nation would
have to keep a permanent army of occupation in this inhospitable
country to insure the Armenians against daily revolutions.

June 6, 1919:

Unquestionably the United States is best qualified to handle the
affairs of Turkey and Armenia. First, we have no national "ax to
grind." No European nation has the slightest reason for jealousy of
us or for suspicion as to our intentions and motives. Second, the
Turks and Armenians themselves would both prefer us as rulers to any
other nation. While unsparingly condemning his atrocious crimes, to
the Turk we have been friendly as it is possible to be. American
missionaries and Robert College, established by them at
Constantinople, have given the Turk a large share of the limited
culture and civilization which he has been capable of assimilating.
To the Armenian we have been the best of friends. We have fed him in
the hour of need; we have often protected him from atrocities at the
hands of the Turks. To the Armenian, fleeing from the Turk, the
United States is the Land of Promise, his hope and refuge.

To post a comment:
/02/what_did_we_say.html

Los Angeles Times
February 4, 2007 Sunday
Home Edition

Return of the G-word;
A resolution calling for the president to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide might finally pass Congress.

LAST WEEK, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) engaged in what has become
a biannual congressional ritual: Introducing a nonbinding resolution
instructing the president of the United States to call Turkey’s
Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians a genocide. Unlike in years past,
however, this time the symbolic but important legislation actually
has a legitimate chance at passage.

Two recent developments have created momentum. First, the Democratic
Party, which has historically been more sympathetic to the
resolution, now controls Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San
Francisco) in particular has taken a keen interest in bringing the
matter to a vote. Second, a 17-year-old gunman last month executed in
cold blood the respected Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on a
crowded Istanbul street.

The slaying of Dink, who had been prosecuted for acknowledging the
genocide, has sent a collective shiver down Turkey’s spine,
triggering street demonstrations and renewed calls for the government
to change its policy. It is still a crime in Turkey to speak the
truth about a period of history whose accepted worldwide
interpretation Ankara still denies.

Schiff’s resolution merely calls on the president to ensure that U.S.
foreign policy "reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity"
regarding the genocide and that he use the G-word during his annual
message commemorating the National Day of Remembrance of Man’s
Inhumanity to Man on April 24, the date in 1915 when Turkey rounded
up 250 Armenian intellectuals to be slaughtered. That the resolution
is so mild makes the White House’s opposition all the more vexing.

Even though President Bush made a campaign promise in 2000 to use the
word "genocide," his flip-flop is neither surprising nor mysterious
— Ankara has considerable diplomatic influence, and Turkey is too
valuable an ally to alienate with congressional resolutions. Yet the
U.S. is at its best when it chooses truth over expedience, especially
in matters as grave as genocide. It’s hard to say "never again"
convincingly if you’re too afraid to speak bluntly about what you aim
to prevent.

Armenpress

PASSENGER TURNOVER GROWS LAST YEAR 15 PERCENT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and
foreign carriers operated last year a total of 2,879
flights from Europe to Armenia and vice versa
transporting 171,000 passengers. Passenger turnover
last year rose 14, 5 percent from a year before.
Also 18 companies were granted licenses to operate
regular and shuttle flights. Twelve of these operated
regular flights to link Armenia with CIS countries,
Europe and Middle East.
New carriers that began operating flights to
Armenia last year were France Air, which makes three
flights to Yerevan weekly and Air Arabia form the
United Aram Emirates that operates two flights weekly.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 1 2007

Armenian genocide bill refers to Adolf Hitler in context of Turkey

The bill proposing official recognition of the Armenians’ claims of
genocide which has been presented to the floor of the US House of
Representatives reportedly references Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in
context of the allegations against Turkey.

The bill, which received signatures from more than 150 members of the
435 member House, requests that the US president refer to the
"Armenian genocide" in his annual April 24 message, and that the
Armenian claims become an accepted part of US foreign policy.
Noteable, one section of the bill even asserts that Nazi leader Adolf
Hitler was "imitating the Turks" in his actions. The bill notes that
Hitler, prior to invading Poland, queried "Who even remembers that
the Armenians were wiped out?"

Sources in the US capital note that, at this point, it looks very
likely that the Armenian bill will in fact pass through the US
Congress.

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.