Author: Harutyunian Christine

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

July 24, 2007
___________________

DIOCESE AWARDS SEVERAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has awarded college
scholarships to 32 young Armenians this year. The total amount of money
awarded totaled more than $15,000.

This year 58 students from 15 states applied for the scholarships, which are
made available thanks to endowments created by donors. The scholarships are
presented to those students with financial need who have shown an active
interest in their parish life.

"We’re glad to see such amazing young people wanting to be a part of the
life of our Armenian Church," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate.
"And indeed these scholarships are truly investments in our future. For
these young students will go on to be our delegates, parish council leaders,
and, hopefully for some, priests."

The Diocese encourages others to establish scholarship funds by contacting
Berjouhi Saladin at the Armenian Church Endowment Fund, via e-mail at
[email protected].

HOLO PIGIAN MEMORIAL FUND

Receiving funds from the George Holopigian Memorial Fund, the largest
scholarship fund distributed by the Diocese, were:

Vache Astourian, 18, son of Hrair and Silva Astourian of the St. Thomas
Church of Tenafly, New Jersey. A sophomore at St. Joseph’s University in
Philadelphia studying business, he has been treasurer of his parish’s ACYOA
chapter, a Sunday School teacher, and involved in his campus’ peer ministry
program.

Talar Aydin, 18, daughter of Simon and Ani Aydin of the Church of the Holy
Martyrs in Bayside, New York. A freshman at Hofstra Unviersity studying
early childhood education, she is a graduate of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum
program. She has also taught Armenian School in her parish, sung with its
choir, been active in its ACYOA chapter and been a counselor at the parish’s
Vacation Bible School. She has also performed with her parish’s Hye Bar
Dance Group, the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble, and the Arousiak Papazian
Theatre Group.

Vartan Babikyan, 18, son of Jirair and Carol Babikyan of the St. James
Church of Watertown, Massachusetts. A freshman at the University of
Massachusetts studying engineering, he is a sub-deacon who was valedictorian
of his Sunday School class and an active member of his parish’s ACYOA Jrs.
chapter. He has also attended the St. Nersess Summer Conferences for many
years and sung in his parish’s choir.

Erika Belezarian, 17, daughter of Kevin and Nancy Belezarian of the St. Mark
Church of Springfield, Massachusetts. A freshman studying forensic science
at Pennsylvania State University, she has served as the secretary of her
parish’s ACYOA Jrs. chapter and graduated from the Association of Armenian
Church Choirs of America’s Junior Choir Leadership Development Program.

Laurie Dabaghian, 18, daughter of Garbis and Takouhie Dabaghian of the St.
Thomas Church of Tenafly, New Jersey. Pursuing both her bachelor’s and
medical degree from the College of New Jersey, she has sung with her
parish’s choir and served as secretary and vice chair of the parish’s ACYOA
chapter. She has also attended the Diocesan Khrimian Lyecum program and
performed with the Shushi Dance Ensemble for seven years. She has also
volunteered with the Armenia Fund USA Telethon.

Alexa Diranian, 20, daughter of Richard and Karen Diranian of the St. James
Church of Watertown, Massachusetts. A junior at Providence College studying
pre-med, she has been involved as an assistant teacher in her parish’s
Sunday School and as chairman of her parish’s ACYOA Jr. chapter and a
delegate for its ACYOA Seniors chapter.

Haik Gazarian, 18, son of Lavrenti and Karina Gazarian of the St. Thomas
Church of Tenafly, New Jersey. A freshman at Babson College in
Massachusetts, studying entrepreneurial business, he has served as treasurer
of his parish’s ACYOA chapter.

Justine Karanian, 20, daughter of Robert and Andrea Karanian of the St.
George Church of Hartford, Connecticut. A junior studying chemistry at
Merrimack College in Massachusetts, she has been a counselor-in-training and
counselor at the St. Vartan Camp, treasurer of her ACYOA Jrs chapter, and
delegate to the ACYOA National Assembly.

Jacqueline Kazarian, 19, daughter of Michele Kazarian of the Sts. Sahag and
Mesrob Church of Providence, Rhode Island. A junior at Barnard College in
New York City studying classics and English, she is active in the St. Vartan
Cathedral ACYOA Chapter while in school and her home parish before leaving.
She has also been a volunteer at the Nubarashen Orphanage in Armenia, a
Sunday School teacher in Providence, and a member of her home parish’s
Nazeli Folk Dance Group.

Mark Kazanjian, 18, son of Mark Kazanjian of the Armenian Church of Hye
Pointe in Lawrence/Haverhill, Massachusetts. A freshman at Rollins College
in Florida studying business, he has served on his parish altar for several
years and as chairman of his parish’s ACYOA chapter.

Tamar Mikaelian, 18, daughter of Hagop and Sylvana Mikaelian of the St.
Thomas Church of Tenafly, New Jersey. A freshman at the College of New
Jersey studying business and economics, she is a graduate of the Diocesan
Khrimian Lyceum program and has danced with the St. Vartan Cathedral Shushi
Dance Ensemble for many years. She has served her parish as an assistant
Sunday School teacher, member of the choir, and ACYOA member.

Katherine Norris, 20, daughter of Anne and Robert Norris of the St. Mary
Church of Washington D.C. She will receive both her bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in accounting through a five-year program at James Madison
University in Virginia. She has served as secretary of her parish’s ACYOA
chapter. As a volunteer organist for the parish for eight years, she has
participated in the Association of Armenian Church Choirs of America’s
Junior Choir Leadership Development Program.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

Several other endowment funds also provide money for college scholarships.
They include the Adrina Movsesian Scholarship Fund, the Armine Dikijian
Journalism Scholarship Fund, the Mabel Fenner Scholarship Fund, Dikran and
Nevart Dadourian Scholarship Fund, Joseph and Eve Gorvetzian Scholarship
Fund, Louie Cefalu Scholarship Fund, and the Astrid Hatabian Zolas
Scholarship Fund. Receiving money from those funds this year are:

Tina Arutunian, 18, daughter of Armen and Mariam Arutunian of the St. Sahag
and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. A freshman studying
fashion industry management at Philadelphia University, she has been an
active ACYOA Jrs. member for several years.

Gabriella Cartiglia, 17, daughter of Carmen and Linda Cartiglia of the
Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, Connecticut. A freshman at
Johnson and Wales University studying culinary arts, she has been involved
in the ACYOA Jrs. and the junior choir of her parish.

Gregory Dalakian, 21, son of Martin and Nancy Dalakian of the St. Mary
Church of Livingston, New Jersey. A senior at University of Delaware
studying music education, he is a sub-deacon and graduate of the AACCA’s
Junior Choir Leadership Development program. He has helped organize
music-oriented events at his parish, including a talent show and Sunday
School Christmas pageant. He has also served as a counselor at St. Vartan
Camp and attended the St. Nersess Summer Conferences.

Athena Davis, 18, daughter of Anahid Khachoyan of the St. George Church of
Hartford, Connecticut. A freshman studying music education and performance
at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, she served as vice chairman of her
ACYOA Jrs. chapter and has sung in her parish’s choir. She has also
participated in the St. Nersess Summer Conferences for many years.

Anoush Froundjian, 23, daughter of Varoujan and Suzanne Froundjian of the
Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, New York. A senior studying dramatic
writing at Purchase College, she has volunteered in Armenia through the
ACYOA Armenia Service Program trip, and serves her parish as a Sunday School
teacher and supporter of the Arousiag Papazian Acting Troupe.

Talene Jermakian, 18, daughter of Brenda and David Jermakian of St. Mark
Church of Springfield, Massachusetts. A freshman studying journalism at the
University of Massachusetts, she has been chairman of her parish’s ACYOA
chapter, a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and counselor-in-training at
St. Vartan Camp.

Emran Baret Klbacak, 19, son of Garo and Jilda Kilbacak of the Armenian
Church of Atlanta, Georgia. A student at Southern Polytechnic State, he has
served his parish as an acolyte

Taleen Kupelian, 20, daughter of Gilda Buchakjian Kupelian. A junior
studying humanities at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, she is
a graduate of and has assisted at the Armenian Religious Educational
Council. She is a graduate of the St. Gregory of Datev Institute and the
Siamanto Academy.

Lori Manukian, 19, daughter of Berch and Talin Manukian of the Holy Cross
Church of Union City, New Jersey. A junior at Babson College in
Massachusetts studying accounting and finance, she is the founder and
president of her school’s Armenian Students’ Association. She is also a
graduate of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum program.

Tamara Martirosyan, 20, daughter of Ashot and Ashkhen Martirosyan of the
Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, Rhode Island. A junior at Rhode
Island College studying general management and marketing, has sun in her
parish’s choir, served as its assistant director, attended the AACCA’s
Junior Choir Leadership Development Program, and she has learned to paly the
Kanon (an ancient Armenian stringed instrument). She was the valedictorian
of her Sunday School class and has taught for her parish’s Armenian School.

Valerie McQueen, 20, daughter of Eric and Arpine McQueen of the St. Stepanos
Church of Elberon, New Jersey. A junior studying communications and
religion at Boston University, she has been active in her college’s Armenian
Club and served as vice president of her parish’s ACYOA chapter.

Ani Nalbandian, 19, daughter of Fr. Untzag and Yn. Setta Nalbandian of the
Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, Connecticut. A junior studying
history and pre-med at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, she
is a graduate of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum program and has served as an
ACYOA delegate. She has been parish organist in Trumbull and Worcester,
Massachusetts, and has attended the Junior Choir Leadership Development
Program offered by the AACCA.

Christina Oscherician, 18, daughter of Dn. Sebuh and Rita Oscherician of the
St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. A junior education major at
Bergen County Community College, she has been active in her parish’s ACYOA
chapter and is a graduate of the parish’s Sunday School.

Juletta Palyan, 26, daughter of Vosky Malkhasian of the St. Kevork Church of
Houston, Texas. She is a sophomore studying international studies and
political science at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

Ryan Patino, 18, son of Haiganoush and Francisco Patino of the St. Mary
Church of Hollywood, Florida. A freshman studying law at Florida State
University, he has been president of his parish’s ACYOA and served on the
altar as a tbir. He has also served as a counselor-in-training at the
Diocesan Hye Camp.

Harout Sahagian, 19, son of Hagop and Ani Sahagian of the St. Leon Church of
Fair Lawn, New Jersey. A sophomore at Montclair State University studying
medicine, he has served on the parish altar and been an active ACYOA member.
He has also been a counselor-in-training and staff member for St. Vartan
Camp.

Lisa Salbashian, 19, daughter of Nazareth and Azniv Salbashian of the St.
Thomas Church of Tenafly, New Jersey. A junior at Rutgers University
studying psychology and sociology, she has been involved in her parish’s
Armenian Club.

Aram Sarkisian, 21, son of Edward and Anna Sarkisian of the St. John Church
of Southfield, Michigan. A senior at the University of Michigan studying
Russian and East European languages, he is a sub-deacon and leader of the
University of Michigan Armenian Students Cultural Association. He also took
part in a parish trip to Armenia in 2006 to build homes through Habitat for
Humanity.

Haiig Topjian, 17, son of Mania Missirian-Topjian of the St. Mary Church of
Washington, D.C. A freshman studying marketing at the University of
Maryland, he has been an active member of his parish’s ACYOA and its Bible
study program.

Azadani Yepremian, 18, daughter of Berj and Rita Yepremian of the St. Sahag
and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. A sophomore at Immaculata
Univesrity in Pennsylvania studying pre-med biology, she has been active in
her parish’s ACYOA chapter.

— 7/24/07

IRAN BACKS NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE TALKS

PRESS TV, Iran
July 23 2007

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini says Iran has
always supported negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

"We believe that resolving this dispute is important in promoting
the stability and achieving sustainable development of the region,"
he told reporters at a press conference regarding Iran’s stance toward
the Nagorno-Karabakh elections.

"Aside from acknowledging the legal rights of countries such as
Azerbaijan, we fully support the recent constructive dialogues
especially the meeting of the presidents of the two countries,"
Hosseini added, announcing Iran’s readiness to provide any help
required to resolve the dispute at hand.

"The Islamic republic of Iran believes that solving this issue has
an undeniable impact on the peace, stability and development of the
region, and supports Azerbaijan- Armenia negotiations that will lead
to a settlement," he concluded.

BAKO SAHAKIAN – NKR PRESIDENT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 23 2007

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Central Electoral Commission has announced
official results of the elections of the Republic President.

The overwhelming majority of the electors – 85, 12% – have voted for
Bako Sahakian.

12, 5 % of the electors voted for NKR Deputy FM Masis Mailian. The
rest of the nominees received much less votes.

Thus, the NKR people have elected their third President – Bako
Sahakian.

To note, a lot of observers and journalists accredited at the elections
have ascertained both high activeness of the voters and irreproachable
transparency of the NKR presidential elections.

Biographical information: Bako Sahakian was born on August 30, 1960,
in the city of Stepanakert.

1977 – Graduated from Stepanakert secondary school N1.

1978-1980 – Served at the Soviet Army.

1981 – Employed at the Stepanakert Industrial-Mechanized Integrated
Plant N9 as a metalworker and mechanical engineer. In a year he was
transferred to Stepanakert Integrated Plant on Building Materials as
a worker on the stone’s breaking up.

1983-1987 – Worked as a foreman-restorer at the Stepanakert branch
of the scientific department on the restoration of ancient monuments.

1987-1990 – Worked at the regional administration on supply as
a supplier.

Since 1988 Bako Sahakian has become known as an activist of Artsakh
Movement.

1990 – Joined NKR Self Defense Forces.

1992-1993 – Deputy Head of the Committee of NKR Self Defense Forces
1993-1995 – Head of NKR AR Headquarters on the rear 1995-1996 –
NKR AR Deputy Commander on External Relations 1996-1997 – Deputy
Commander of NKR AR 10th Mountain Rifle Division on the rear
1997-1999 – Assistant to RA Minister for Home Affairs and National
Security 1999-2001 – NKR Minister for Home Affairs Since 2001 – Head
of NKR State Department of National Security – Director of NKR NS
Has been awarded an order ‘~RFighting Cross’~R of the first degree,
‘~RSparapet Vazgen Sargsian’~R and RF order ‘~RPeter the Great’~R of
the first degree, the medal ‘~RFor the Services to the Motherland’~R
of the first degree and other medals.

Bako Sahakian is a member of RF Academy on Security, Defense and
Legality.

He graduated from the Department of Law at Artsakh State University.

Bako Sahakian is married; he has two children.

President Kocharyan signs new decrees

armradio.am
21.07.2007 12:36

On July 21 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on appointing
Artashes Bakhshiyan the Chief of the Presidential Oversight Service,
President’s Press Office informs.

According to another presidential decree, Samvel Vasilyan was appointed
Deputy Chairman of the Civil Service Council with the term in office
by July 21, 2013.

July 21 Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on suspending the
liabilities of Armine Kharatyan, member of the Central electoral
Commission. According to another decree, Armine Kharatyan was appointed
member of the Civil Service Council with the term in office by July
21, 2013.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS" IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 20 2007

The US Department of State made a statement on illegal "presidential
elections" held in the so-called Nagorno Karabakh Republic, APA’s US
bureau reports.

Chase Beamer, Press Officer of Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
said Washington believes that these elections will not affect the
negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

"The US does not recognize Nagorno Karabakh Republic and illegitimate
elections held there. The US respects Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The US along with other co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group will
make efforts with Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a mutually accepted
solution to the conflict. We hope that Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents will reach an agreement on basic principles as soon as
possible and pave the way for making a through peace accord," the
statement says.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND IRAN MEET IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
20.07.2007 16:10

July 20 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the Chairman
of the Intergovernmental Commission for Coordination of the
Armenian-Iranian Ties, the Foreign Minister of Iran Manouchehr
Mottaki. The latter heads the delegation of the Islamic Republic
of Iran participating in the 7th sitting of the Intergovernmental
Commission for Coordination of the Armenian-Iranian Ties.

Greeting the guest, the Foreign Minister highly assessed the
bilateral relations. The Ministers underlined that the results of
the cooperation between the two countries during the past 15 years
have become apparent today.

Minister Mottaki briefly presented the results of the Intergovernmental
Commission that took place in the morning, noting that it stood
out for the discussion of deep discussion of a number of economic
programs. It was underlined that all prerequisites exist today for
doubling the commodity turnover between Armenia and Iran.

The parties exchanged views on regional issues, relations with
neighbors of Armenia and Iran. Minister Oskanian presented the
democratization processes in Nagorno Karabakh, the assessments of
the latest developments around the Karabakh issue.

At the request of the Armenian side, Manouchehr Mottaki presented the
process and results of the talks on the nuclear programs of Iran. He
assured that Iran is trying to settle the existing discrepancies and
problems exceptionally through negotiations.

OPENING OF OFFICIAL SITES OF RA JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF REFORMS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 19 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The legal-judicial reforms, which
are being conducted in Armenia, have, from the beginning, aimed at
forming a judicial system, the activities of which would be based on
the principles of publicity, availability, and clarity, which, in its
turn, would increase the level of legal consciousness among society,
as well as the level of the posession of information concerning the
functions of court instances and would contribute to society in the
realization of the right for receiving information.

One of the most important results of the implementations of reforms
in the judicial system of the country is the opening of the official
internet sites of the judicial system of Armenia, which will become
a source of fledged and always refreshed information due to the
collaborators of the judicial system, as well as new information
technologies. (These are the addresses of the official sites of
the RA judicial system: ";, ";,
"www.dataran .am", "www.judiciary,am").

According to the message of the Press Service of the RA Court of
Appeal, the information located in the official internet site of of
the RA judicial system is provided in two languages: Armenian and
English. The general character reference of the judicial system
of Armenia in force is briefly presented in the main, so-called
Home page of the internet site. Separate sections in this site are
dedicated to the RA Court of Appeal, the RA Civil Court of Appeal,
as well as the Criminal Court of Appeal, and Courts of First Instance
of general competence, as well as Economic Courts.

Information concerning the structure, composition and competence
of the given court, the order of how to submit an application to
that court, as well as the activities of the judges working in that
court is provided in the above-mentioned sections. Here, we can also
become acquainted with the biographical data of the above-mentioned
judges. There is an instruction to go to the official internet site
of the RA Economic Court immediately from the window dedicated to
the Economic Court.

Separate sections in the official internet site of the Armenian
judicial system are dedicated to the Council of Justice, where one
can become acqainted with the decisions made from 2005 to 2007 by
the Justice Council, with the Council of the Chairmen of Courts,
the Union of Judges, the Judicial Department, and the Judicial School.

The decisions of the Council of the Chairmen of Courts, materials
of court practice, the scientific articles and works of judges
and judicial servants, as well as the model variants of all those
documents, which are necessary for every citizen in order to make
judicial activities, that is to say, for submitting applications,
making petitions, as well as making appeal and cessation protests,
to name but a few, are located in the "Library" section of the
internet site.

Information concerning the order of submitting an application to court,
judicial expenses, as well as appeal and cessation examinations,
is located in the "Necessary Information" section of the internet
site. The "Schedule of judicial sittings" page is located in the
above-mentioned section, where every citizen can become acquainted
with the schedules of the judicial sittings held in all the courts
of Armenia. The internet site also has an "Announcements" section,
where all the open and closed competitions announced for vacancies
suggested by the Judicial Department are presented.

Information concerning the representative activities of the RA
Judicial system is recurrently located in the "News" section of the
internet site, and every person can send his or her suggestions to
the corresponding e-mail in the "Suggestions" section, and these
suggestions will be competent for the corresponding officials. This
internet site gives an opportunity to subscribe for news, as well as
be registered in the internet site in order to see judicial acts and
log them into one’s own computer.

The Armenian Office of the United Nations’ Development Program (UNDP)
and the Unites States’ International Development Agency (USAID),
the American Bar Association, and Bearing Point, in particular, have
provided assistance to the work of the official internet site of the
Armenian judicial system.

THE IMPERIALIST DRIVE

Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt
July 19 2007

While it would appear that formal colonialism largely ended in the
last century, the imperial impulse entered the new millennium in
altered forms, writes Ayman El-Amir

One is often tempted to believe, even through a sheer lapse of
memory, that colonialism and the long trail of generations that
fought it is something of the past, now dead and buried in history
books. Yet nearly three- quarters of all member states of the United
Nations today have become independent sovereign countries in the
past half century through struggles of self- determination. French
President Nicolas Sarkozy has, during his recent visit to Algeria,
declined to apologise for the atrocities France committed during its
130-year-long occupation and exploitation of Algeria. It is a strong
reminder that colonial attitudes remain a bitter reality and that
despite the promise of globalisation, colonialism in its varied forms
still poisons the lives of many around the world. Colonial powers,
old and new, owe the peoples they conquered and colonised not only
formal apologies but also reparations.

There was a trend during the colonial era among dominated peoples to
pretend, by way of desperate resignation, that their colonial rulers
were more benign than others. They thanked their lucky stars that
the British administration, for example, was less brutal than the
French who, in turn, were more merciful than the Portuguese. As four
centuries of imperialism and colonialism have proven, the atrocities
and consequences of the colonial era have belied the claim of "the
white man’s burden" of extending the benefits of Western civilisation
to the "primitive savages" they conquered.

The fact is that colonial powers plundered the wealth of future
nation- states, displaced tribal populations, carved up territories,
sowed the seeds of future inter-state and tribal conflicts, reduced
the indigenous population to a sub-human status and enslaved them.

When the conquerors finally departed, they left virtually nothing in
place to help colonised peoples develop independent governance or a
meaningful political community. The legendary statesman Kwame Nkrumah,
the first president of Ghana, eloquently put it this way: "It is far
easier for the proverbial camel to pass through the needle’s eye, hump
and all, than for an erstwhile colonial administration to give sound
and honest counsel of a political nature to its liberated territory."

Historically, the colonial experience leaves no doubt that all its
protagonists sought to create a subject race of colonised peoples.

Together with suppressive military power, the cultivation of this
sense of inferiority facilitated the plundering of the colonial
territories’ resources and the subjugation of their peoples. In Egypt,
for example, the racist undertone of colonial rule was reflected
in Lord Cromer’s memoirs, Modern Egypt. As the British proconsul
in Egypt from 1882 to 1907, Cromer denigrated Egypt’s centuries-old
civilisation and multicultural tradition as "barbarous", "coarse",
"cruel" and "lacking in harmony". His prescription for the Egyptians
was to abandon their crude cultural heritage, Pharaonic, Christian
and Arab, and try to aspire to the superior ways of the civilised
European colonialist. Brutal force and racist subjugation were the
hallmark of colonial occupation and administration wherever invading
imperial armies set foot.

The French, like other colonialists, have a good few brutal acts
to apologise for, such as the Setif massacre in Algeria. There are
different accounts of the incident, which started on 8 May 1945 when
a march by Algerian tribes in Setif and Guelma in Constantine against
French and European settlers — the pièds noire, who were celebrating
VE Day (the day when Nazi Germany surrendered) — turned into a
pro-independence uprising. French retaliation was swift and vengeful.

French troops using artillery and bomber-aircraft strafed the local
population incessantly for two full weeks. French estimates initially
put the casualty figure at 1,500 dead. But French historians later
revised the figure upward to between 15,000 and 20,000 dead.

Post-independence Algerian governments estimated the death toll at more
than double that figure — 45,000 dead in what President Abdul-Aziz
Bouteflika recently called the beginning of genocide by the French
occupation forces against the Algerian people.

This and other atrocities, for which the French refuse to apologise,
have cast a dark shadow of shame over France’s 200-year-old claim
of being one of the chief architects of universal human rights
standards. France’s reluctance to apologise for the brutalities
of its colonial rule in Algeria has also held up the conclusion of
a negotiated treaty of friendship and cooperation between the two
countries.

British colonialism had its share of acts of genocide too, whether
in the suppression of the Kikuyu tribes revolt in Kenya in the 1950s,
the starvation of millions in India, or the Opium Wars against China
in the mid-19th century, to name but a few. The 1960 UN Declaration
on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
was a watershed landmark ending the centuries-old colonial era. Soon
afterwards the US was involved in the Vietnam War that ended more
than a decade later, leaving behind tens of thousands of American
casualties and millions of Vietnamese dead, maimed or terminally ill by
chemical defoliants. Like France, Britain and other colonial powers,
the US never offered an apology to the Vietnamese people nor was it
condemned for war crimes.

Colonialism in all its abominable forms, whether direct military
conquest or settler colonialism, has crept into the 21st century. Its
cruelties are daily played out in Iraq and Palestine for the world
to see and despair over. The US is fighting a losing war of colonial
greed in Iraq while Israel, like apartheid South Africa of yore, is
the epitome of 19th century settler colonialism, given the respectful
mantle of statehood. During the 20th century, and despite the formal
ending of old-style colonialism, old and new colonial powers adopted
a new crusade against a new enemy: the threat of communist expansion.

Towards the end of the century, communism collapsed too and a new
world order based on US hegemony, supported by ragtag allies seemed
to take hold. The new cause is the US-proclaimed global war against
terrorism. While the cause is genuine, in so far as no one would like
to be sitting in a coffee shop, on a plane or a school bus, or in a
movie theatre next to a terrorist replete with a belt of explosives,
it has become a mixed bag of hidden agendas. US-led imperial ambition
armed with the threat of military force has stymied legitimate national
liberation struggles. Because the US-Israeli alliance sought to besiege
and liquidate the Palestinian national liberation struggle, classifying
its actors as "terrorists", the blanket definition of terrorism lumped
together many groups to the extent that terrorism, often senseless,
became the only salvation for a desperate people, irrespective of the
worthiness of the cause. It also marks the failure of more than two
decades of UN-sponsored negotiations seeking a fair and legitimate
definition of terrorism that does not ostracise national liberation
struggles. Old-style colonialism has mutated, and so too the struggle
against it, becoming what Russian President Vladimir Putin called
"the scourge of the 21th century". Despite the global spread of the
US armada, in both physical military might and covert operations,
there does not seem to be an end in sight.

It is probably high time to abandon the lost cause of the new world
order and go back to the UN. Colonial powers, old and new, should
strive to rectify their past and redeem themselves as a means of
building a just and peaceful future. The UN could establish a formal
but voluntary "Book of Apologies" for all powers that committed
atrocities against peoples that once came under their domination —
Africans, Asians and Armenians included. It may not cost them anything
close to the estimated $61 billion post-war Germany paid to Israel
under allied pressure as "reparations, restitution and indemnities",
in the words of Chaim Weizam, for the atrocities committed by the Third
Reich against Jews, but it may help clear the past and build a better
future, both in terms of human relations and international trade.

The 19th century Irish-British playwright George Bernard Shaw put
it this way: "A conquered nation is like a man with cancer: he can
think of nothing else."

* The writer is a former correspondent for Al-Ahram in Washington,
DC. He also served as director of UN Radio and Television in New York.

–Boundary_(ID_7tgWfPKpcp4NzXSEV5ztOA)–

IN FIRST GAME OF UEFA CUP TOURNAMENT BANANTS TO RECEIVE "YOUNG BOYS" TEAM OF SWITZERLAND

Noyan Tapan
Jul 18 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first game of UEFA cup tournament
to be held on July 19 at Yerevan’s Republican Stadium, Yerevan’s
Banants will receive the "Young Boys" football team of Switzerland.

The judges’ group headed by Croatian referee Vlado Svilikos will
serve the game.

NUMBER OF APPLICANTS INCREASED

"Tsajg" TV Channel
A1+
[01:23 pm] 17 July, 2007
Gyumri

The number of students applying to the higher educational institutes
in Gyumri has increased this year as compared with previous
years. If last year 869 students applied for 496 places in 27 various
specializations, this year 1033 students have applied for 736 places in
28 specializations. 23 of them have entered by passing an interview
only. According to Samvel Simonyan, secretary of the application
accepting commission, more people apply to the faculties of English
Language, Physical Training and History.

Last year 180 people applied to the Gyumri branch The State Engineering
University of Armenia in 11 specializations for 197 places, this
year 236 applications have been submitted for 215 places in 12
specializations.

As to the Gyumri branch of the Yerevan State Institute of Economics,
the number of applicants to the departments of finances and loans
prevails. If the number of applicants was 101 last year, this year
their number is 131 for 65 places in 3 specializations.

The growing number of applicants in 30 percent is explained by the
fact that the applicants were mainly born in 1990 and according to
the statistics, the index of birthrate was high that year.