Author: Hambardsumian Paul

FOR IMAGE
Panorama
17:28 12/10/05
The company “Synopsis” after operating for a year in the field of
informational technologies has decided to unite with “HPL-Technology,
the “Synopsis” company director Rich Goldman.. said today during the
press conference.
“HPL Technology” is the leader in the field of microcircuits
production. The representative of the “Synopsis” company Haik
Hovhannisyan thinks that the most important thing is to keep image
during all procedures in the informational and technological field.
Besides, the participants are sure about the prosperous perspectives
of two companies in Armenia. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STILL DOGGING US!
Tamer Korkmaz
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 12 2005
Turkey waited 42 years in order to start membership talks with the
European Union (EU). Ankara had squandered a huge opportunity by
not applying to the Community during the [Bulent] Ecevit government
in 1978.
In fact, even if we had not wasted that opportunity, not much would
have changed. The coup on September 12, 1980 would have rendered our
EU application meaningless!
Our application for candidacy dragged on until the era of former
Turkish Prime Minister and President Turgut Ozal in 1987. “Our joining
the EU will take up to 20 years,” public opinion was made to believe
at that time.
We crossed the most critical threshold ever during the wee hours of
Tuesday morning. However, remarks like “We have to wait 15 or 20 more
years,” are still dogging us.
If Turkey had “rebounded from the [goal] post” on October 3, this
would have been a very great loss. Had we had abandoned the negotiating
table, this would have hurt the prestige of both Turkey and the EU.
An introverted Turkey then would have been forgotten by the outside
world. And from the inside, we would have been surrounded by an
atmosphere that is more suitable for the Twilight Zone series.
Well, all right then…
Yet, at this point, we have to make a distinction between two events.
Our starting membership negotiations is a vital step; however, we
have to meticulously examine the mines on our negotiation path.
Underestimating or excluding the negotiating framework document mines
from the discussions, would be mere legerdemain. Not only the Cyprus
issue, which is still unsolved, but also the so-called Armenian issue,
are issues we will have to face. In future, Turkey will be told,
“If you want full membership, you must recognize the genocide!”
It is enough to be able to read the expressions with a special status
aroma in the negotiating framework document to see how the EU is
discriminating against Turkey!
The Croatia issue on October 3 once again proved that the EU does
not treat all candidate countries equally.
We cannot close our eyes to the fact that Austria made the start of
negotiations with Zagreb a condition for EU members to say “yes”
to Turkey. The criteria set for candidate countries so far were
immediately frozen when Croatia became a bone of contention!
The EU has sent a very dangerous message to countries hiding war
criminals (Serbia in particular) by giving Croatia the green light.
Let’s assume, for a moment, that Turkey was in Croatia’s position.
They wouldn’t have even allowed us to utter the letter “n” for
negotiations!
***
This is one side of the medallion. On the other side, there is the
“mangal (barbecue) issue” of the Turks!
Rauf Tamer says: “Bottled gas will not explode, houses will not remain
unplastered, cars will not swerve into sidewalks, and our children
will not attend classes with 80 pupils anymore. This is the meaning
of our negotiation process!”
I wonder whether we will be able to overcome these “seemingly small”
problems during the negotiations.
Do you think guns fired in the air during weddings in certain
neighborhoods will stop during the negotiation process? Or will Turkey
organize the biggest armed celebrations in its history on the night
it is admitted as a full EU member? (I hope the day will come).
Or will barbecues at parks in several German cities be extinguished
during negotiations?
Will the Austrian businessman, who went crazy after seeing pickled
anchovies floating in the cabin luggage of a THY (Turkish Airlines)
plane that landed in Vienna in the beginning of 2000, forget this
moment of insanity and say “yes” to Turkey’s full membership in a
referendum that will be held years later?
Or how many times will a Turkish worker, who voted for Angela Merkel
in the last general elections in Germany, abandon his attempts to
build a squatter house somewhere in Berlin?
Will the Higher Education Council (YOK) in Turkey really abandon its
attitude of challenging the political party in power during the EU
process? Will negotiations save our 2,500 school buildings without
toilets?
Let’s wait and see!

LES TROIS FAMILLES MENACEES D’EXPULSION REFUSENT DE PARTIR
par Isabelle Le Malefan
Le Telegramme , France
11 octobre 2005
Le coordinateur du dispositif Scohda-Aftam*, Michel Chapin, est venu
constater, hier, le refus des trois familles menacees d’expulsion de
quitter leur logement suite a une ” invitation a quitter le territoire
“.
” Michel Chapin, coordinateur du dispositif Scohda-Aftam, a demande
aux familles si elles voulaient quitter leur logement. Elles ont
refuse. Aucune n’a rendu les clefs de son appartement “, a annonce
Philippe Coulau, president de la section paimpolaise de la Ligue
des Droits de l’Homme, aux personnes mobilisees en soutien aux trois
familles dont deux armeniennes et une georgienne, menacees d’expulsion
de leur logement suite a une ” invitation a quitter le territoire “,
recue en septembre dernier.
Demandes d’asile rejetees
” Le prefet nous a indique que nous n’avions pas la competence pour
accueillir des personnes qui ne sont pas demandeurs d’asile. Ces
familles ont ete deboutees de leur demande le 18 mai dernier. Je suis
venu constater si elles acceptaient ou non de quitter leur logement
“, a explique Michel Chapin.
” J’ai fait une demande d’asile pour ma famille. Elle a ete rejetee
et je ne sais meme pas pourquoi. J’ai deja habite dans trois pays
differents : l’Azerbaïdjan, la Russie et la France. Aujourd’hui,
on n’est plus rien, on n’a pas de papiers “, confie Armen Sarkisian,
menace d’expulsion avec sa famille.
Ce père de famille a demande, fin septembre, le statut d'” a-patrie
“. S’il l’obtient, il pourra, avec sa famille, sejourner en France.
” On ne quitte jamais son pays par gaiete de coeur. Si ces familles
quittent leur logement, où iront-elles ?, s’inquiète Philippe Coulau.
C’est la regularisation de leurs papiers qui reglera le problème. ”
” Avec ma famille, nous sommes partis en mai 2004 d’Armenie. Avec la
guerre entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan, nous ne pouvions plus rester
dans le pays car ma femme est azerbaïdjanaise. Nous vivons a Lannion
depuis plus d’un an avec nos deux enfants “, explique Armen Gevorgyan.
” Solidarite financière ”
Depuis que ces familles ont recu leur invitation a quitter le
territoire, les aides financières apportees par le service de
coordination, d’orientation et d’hebergement des demandeurs d’asile
(Scohda) se sont arretees. ” Nous sommes en train d’organiser une
solidarite financière pour permettre a ces familles de vivre “,
a explique Philippe Coulau.
Une manifestation de soutien se deroulera samedi. Le rendez-vous est
fixe a 14 h 30 devant la mairie. A la meme heure, une mobilisation
se tiendra egalement a la prefecture de Saint-Brieuc.
* Scohda-Aftam : service de coordination, d’orientation et
d’hebergement des demandeurs d’asile – association accueil formation
des travailleurs apatrides et migrants. L’association accueil –
formation dite Aftam dispose d’un service d’accueil et d’orientation de
personnes nouvellement arrivees sur le territoire et qui souhaiteraient
faire une demande d’asile.
–Boundary_(ID_AylpS7Vij9saL+RQ+5PBlA)–

PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
6/26 Zakiyan St.
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 -10) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 10) 54.24.39
E-mail: [email protected]
October 11, 2005
BRINGING THE BIBLE TO SCHOOLS, SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI REGION
YEREVAN — Within its four-day trip September 25-29 to
Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, Southern Georgia, a delegation of the Bible
Society Board members met with 200 school principals, teachers and
students. The delegation had the opportunity to be in four cities and
some villages of this Region. The project called “Bringing the Bible to
Schools” was a part of the long run program, implemented in Armenia
during the years 2002-2004, and in Diocese of Artsakh in August, 2005.
This project has been implemented owing to the
generous support of the Catholicosate of All Armenians, the Armenian
Evangelical Church and the Armenian Catholic Church and also with the
cooperation of the UBS representation in Georgia. Among the delegation
were Arshavir Kapoudjian, the BS Board Secretary; Fr. Samvel, parish
priest of the Armenian Apostoloc Church of Holy Cross, Akhalkalaki; Fr
Grigor Mkrtcian, the representative of the Armenian Catholic Church;
Revd Valeri Zakarian, the representative of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches; Rune Hansen, the representative of the Danish Bible Society.
The four meetings with the school principals were held Monday to
Wednesday, September 26-28, 2005, consecutively in the cities of
Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminta, Aspindza and Akhltskha. Fr Samvel from the
Armenian Apostolic Church warmly greeted the delegation and expressed
his joy and gratitude for such kind of initiative and the generous
support of the Bible Society of Armenia. During these meetings the
delegation was welcomed by the city mayors and the heads of Education
Departments who expressed their thanks to the BS Armenia for this unique
support extended and for the gifts to be delivered to the local schools.
In his keynote address the Board Secretary presented the gathered people
with the 200-year history of the United Bible
Societies, the 14-year history of the Bible Society of Armenia and its
mission in Armenia, and the sets of nine books to be given to schools (a
Bible, 6 different volumes of Guides, Opening Up the Bible, The Bible in
the Armenian Tradition). Based on their witnesses, the principals
revealed that this was something new which happened in their life.
Receiving their packages, a lot of principals invited the BS members to
their own villages and schools for such kind of spiritual and uplifting
meetings. The delegation accepted this invitation and had the
opportunity to visit some schools separately and met with hundreds of
students in their classrooms.
The delegation had also the chance to visit a 19th century village of
Abul=85 a village without electricity, without roads, a village far from
Akhalkalaki 12 kilometers. The road took one hour and half=85 It was
already sunset when the delegation first met a shepherd and a lady
coming from the mountains. They were curious who these people were and
where they came from. They were lucky to get their own Bibles. The place
was empty and at first glance it was hard to meet people. Ten minutes
later the entire village surrounded the Society’s van loaded with
books. The driver had the difficulty to pull the gathered people and
explained that they will get a copy. They were crying. Someone was
shouting `I have a patient,’ another one `I have a grandchild; I
need a Children’s Bible.’
Another such visit was to Tamala! The delegation turned the way to
Akhlskha. The only school of this village has 600 students. The meeting
took place in several classrooms, with students of 1st to 10th grades.
The conversation with different ages of students was very interesting.
The teachers made it clear that during and after the communist regime
they didn’t have such visitors. `We are Christians, but 90% of us
are not baptized. We survived through our faith, but now we have no
access to the knowledge of the Bible.’ Another teacher who found this
visit common with swallows making their nest, stated, `This is the way
how we shall build our spiritual house.’ This year is the 1600th
anniversary of the Invention of the Armenian Alphabet. When the students
asked the reason of the invention of the alphabet the answer was very
clear: The Bible!
Apart from these meetings, the delegation had the opportunity to meet Mr
Arthur Yeremian, the representative of the Georgian President in the
Region; several youth organizations and people in the streets, who were
interested in the Bible Society and the Bible work everywhere.
This was the end of the project called `Bringing the Bible to
Schools,’ which has begun in 2002.
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991 when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding, regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful and
effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and media
which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford. The Board of
Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of representatives of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the
Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its activities,
call
(374-10) 58-55 09 or 56-49-06; fax (374-10) 54-24-39; e-mail
[email protected], and visit the Bible Society’s homepage
###

OSKANIAN, REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE PA FOR NK DISCUSS SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and
Special Representative of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the OSCE on Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lenmarker discussed settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Yerevan; press-service of the RA Foreign
Ministry reported ARKA News Agency. Lenmarker presented results of
the July session of the PA of OSCE in Washington, where he made a
report. Oskanyan positively evaluated the report, and pointed out that
realistic possibilities of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement have
been presented in this report. The sides exchanged opinions on current
stage of the conflict settlement and its prospects. Speaking about
Armenia’s participation in the Policy of European Neighborhood, they
agreed that development of the relevant Action Plan will open a new
page in Armenia-EU relations. They also discussed the Armenian-Turkish
relations at bilateral level and in the context of Turkey’s entrance
to the EU.
Press-release also says that Lenmarker arrived in Armenia to
participate in the seminar of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO.

OSKANIAN: DAYS OF ARMENIAN-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP REFLECT HIGH LEVEL OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The organization
of the Days of Armenian-Italian Friendship reflects the high level of
bilateral relations between Armenia and Italy. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian declared this at the October 5 meeting with Italian
Foreign Trade Minister Adolfo Urso. The Italian Minister arrived in
Armenia on the occasion of opening of the Days of Armenian-Italian
Friendship.
According to Vartan Oskanian, during these days the Armenian
public will have a peculiar opportunity to get acquainted with
Armenian-Italian relations, Italian culture.
According to RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
the Italian Foreign Trade Minister in his turn attached importance to
the holding of the days in Armenia mentioning the familiarization of
well-known Italian figures with the Armenian public, Armenian culture.
The guest especially mentioned the trade and economic relations
successfully developing between Armenia and Italy. The interlocutors
agreed that in spite of the positive dynamics, there is much to do
in this direction. The organization of the Armenian-Italian business
forum starting on October 6 was considered important in this context.
Minister Oskanian briefly touched upon the recent regional
developments, process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
After the meeting Ministers V.Oskanian and A.Urso officially opened the
Days of Armenian-Italian Friendship and the “Treasures of Surb Ghazar
(St Lazzaro) Island” exhibition at the National Gallery of Armenia.

MEDIATORS IN VIENNA MEETING OF MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Azerbaijan News Service
Oct 4 2005
Mediators in Vienna meeting of OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen are
expected to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia, informed Elmar Mammadyarov,
foreign affairs minister of Azerbaijan. Mr. Mammadyarov also noted
structure of next phase of talks on settlement of Armenia- Azerbaijan
Daqliq Qarabaq conflict has already been determined. Noting that
the talks will be held within the frames of Prague talks process,
Azerbaijani FA minister said agreements on three points still stay
in force. The topic of the talks include such questions as release
of occupied Azerbaijani lands, ensuring of safe return of refugees
to their homeland, arrival of peacekeeping forces in the region,
perspectives of economic relations. Mr. Mammadyarov considers there is
still chance for peaceful settlement of the conflict. And official Baku
is firm in its position that is the highest autonomy to Daqliq Qarabaq
within the frames of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan Republic.

OPINION : WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITH THE EFFORT WASTED TO PERSUADE AUSTRIA?
Baris Sanli , JTW Columnist
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 3 2005
After long hours of meetings and news, now I am heading back to my
home. The two days and the stress caused by Austria to my psychology
has been destructive on me. I do not expect an official apology from
Austria, but they literally wasted my time with their five star,
gold medalist stubbornness. Now everyone is happy, as usual except me.
But how about the time, diplomacy and the effort given to persuade
Austria? It could have been used for more important causes. Now
what is different, for two days they just tested the nerves of
European Foreign Ministers and most importantly me. For what? Just
to turn a historic chance to a political circus. Some may say this
is how diplomacy works, but I will call it “this is how diplomacy is
wasted”. After all, the situation is no different than 1st October.
So I decided to write a list of things to be done with the resources
wasted to persuade Austria. Here is my list as a product of my ruined
psychology, enjoy it:
– I could have written annoying articles to annoy Armenians.
– My Armenian readers could have written more annoying emails to me
to annoy me.
– I could have been treated from my mental problems.
– Even North Korea can start the accession talks with EU with this
much of effort – I would like to add Antarctica to previous article.
– and Zimbabwe – Bush could be teached to find the Iraq on the
world map.
– Blair could be persuaded to leave his place to Gordon Brown.
– Sarkozy can be sent to space.(For peaceful purposes like the first
French president to be to enjoy space) – Austrians can be informed
about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
– Greek Cyprus could be persuaded to UN talks.
– Karen Hughes can win the hearts of Turkish women. (I have never
ever achieved such a thing) – Washington Times could be converted
into democratic and open minded newspaper.
– Usame Bin Laden could be persuaded that killing innocents is not
a way to deal with problems.
– Serbians could be teached that Bosnian Muslims are not bad –
Poverty problem could have been solved.
– Third world could have been transformed into a bunch of Silicon
valleys.
– The whole world could be informed that Turkey is not a desert and
is not a place where people use camels for transportation and Turks
are not barbarians, it was Conan the Barbarian.
– And I could have been persuaded not to write any more articles in
this aggressive tone.

PROTESTERS RAIL AGAINST ‘TOO MANY ‘CONCESSIONS’
By Amberin Zaman in Ankara
The Daily Telegraph
Oct 3 2005
Tens of thousands of Turkish nationalists staged a huge show of
strength yesterday to protest at what they see as Christian Europe’s
efforts to shut its doors to Muslim Turkey.
Demonstrators flooded the streets of Ankara, the capital, to denounce
the campaign by the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to placate
the country’s critics in the EU.
“The concessions that you have made to the EU are dragging Turkey
toward darkness,” Devlet Bahceli, head of the Nationalist Action Party,
told flag-waving crowds, addressing Mr Erdogan.
“Don’t allow them [the EU] to impose more heavy conditions on
us…Reject those [membership] talks,” Mr Bahceli said.
The high turnout of protesters was a further sign of the wave of
nationalist sentiment sweeping Turkey on the eve of its scheduled
talks on EU membership.
Many Turks question whether Turkey should launch more reforms amid
receding hopes that it will ever become a full member.
The EU’s seemingly endless list of demands are perceived as a plot
to weaken, then dismember Turkey. The proof that such a policy is
Europe’s goal is supposedly demonstrated by its demands that Turkey
grant greater rights to Kurds, acknowledge the 1915 Armenian genocide
and make more concessions on Cyprus.
“The Europeans are playing games with us. Their real ambition is
to weaken Turkey, to make it their slave,” said Mehmet Korkmaz,
an electrician. The irony that tiny Austria, the most vociferous of
Turkey’s opponents, may yet extinguish Turkey’s long cherished EU
dream has been seized on by many. It was the defeat of the Ottoman
Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 that marked the beginning of
the decline of their once mighty empire.
But for every Eurosceptic Turk opinion polls show there are twice as
many who are in favour of the EU. Many value the process of integrating
into the EU, with its emphasis on human rights and the rule of law,
over actual membership itself.
Even Mr Bahceli stopped short yesterday of opposing EU membership,
focusing his wrath on the conditions of membership instead.
In the five years that have elapsed since EU leaders officially
anointed Turkey as a candidate for membership, improvements in the
country’s wobbly democracy have been huge.
The Kurds can now publish and broadcast in their previously banned
tongue. The share of education in the national budget has surpassed
that of the military. Capital punishment has been abolished and
marital rape is counted a criminal offence.
Although Turkey has been ruled by a group of former Islamists for
the past three years, there are few signs that it is sliding into
Shar’iah rule. After decades of crisis, the economy is booming.
Given the choice between swallowing their pride and negotiating with
the EU – even without the promise of full membership – or walking
away into an uncertain future, most Turks are still opting for Europe.

San Bernardino Sun, CA
Los Angeles Daily News
Oct 2 2005
Development of Armenian alphabet focus of new exhibition
Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

GLENDALE – The Armenian alphabet was created 1,600 years ago by
Mesrop Mashtots, a monk, theologian and linguist who was interested
in translating the Bible into native tongue.
The alphabet strengthened Armenia’s church and its kingdom and
started a national literature that continues today.
The Glendale Central Library opened Saturday a monthlong display on
the development of the Armenian alphabet, one of several planned for
this month in the Glendale area.
“What it’s made me realize is the significance of the book and the
significance of writing to the Armenian culture,” said Nancy
Hunt-Coffey, Glendale’s director of libraries.
“Writing and the manuscripts are valued in the same way that we value
priceless works of art. The writing is sort of inextricably tied to
(Armenian) cultural development in the same way that the great
artists are tied to western development.”
The display features dozens of books and more than 50 pieces of art,
including prints, sculptures and pottery. Material for the display
comes from the Matenadaran book depository in Armenia.
Armenian alphabet expert Nona Manoukian from the Glendale Public
Library visited Matenadaran recently and brought back the material.
The display, which runs through Oct. 31, also highlights the Glendale
Public Library’s acquisition nearly a year ago of 12,500 Armenian
books donated by the now defunct American Armenian International
College in La Verne.
Librarians are still going through the collection and have begun
putting some of the books on shelves. Some of the more academic books
will go to local universities. The library had 4,000 Armenian books
before the donation.
“It’s a tremendous infusion of resources that are in high demand,”
Hunt-Coffey said.
Today, the Alex Theatre will host a celebration of the 1,600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.
The free program is presented by the Hamazkayin Educational &
Cultural Society, and it will feature keynote speakers from UCLA and
UC Berkeley and performances by dancers and musicians.
On Oct. 6, His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, will visit the Homenetmen
Glendale Ararat Chapter for the opening of its exhibition on the
Armenian alphabet.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Oct. 7-9.
“Since its creation, the letters were never changed or reformed,
making the Armenian language one of the most extremely precise
languages,” said Armond Gorgorian, executive director of the
Homenetmen chapter.
Homenetmen is an an international Armenian youth organization.
IF YOU GO
A display of Armenian arts and culture runs through Oct. 31 at the
Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St.
The Hamazkayin Educational & Cultural Society will present a
Celebration of the 1,600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet, 6
p.m. today at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Free.
The Homenetmen art exhibition on the Armenian alphabet will open to
the public Oct. 7-9 at Homenetmen’s Ararat Chapter, 3347 N. San
Fernando Road, Los Angeles. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, will mark the opening of the exhibit at an
invitation-only ceremony at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.