Author: Hovhannisian John

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO THE MEDIEVAL CAUCASIAN ALBANIA

AZG Armenian Daily #151
23/08/2007

Science and Culture

On September 2-5, an international conference dedicated to the
historical-cultural heritage of the medieval Caucasian Albania (also
known as Alvank in Armenian) will be held in Yerevan.

The research of the medieval Caucasian Albania is not only scientific,
but also a political issue, according to the initiator, Director of
RA Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastian.

"It’s not a secret that our neighbor Azerbaijan does everything to
ascribe the cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania to it, which, is,
in its turn, an encroachment upon the history of the Armenian people",
mentioned R. Safrastian.

French famous Armenologists Jan Pier Mahen, Bernard Rudien,
Constantine Zimmermann, Georgian famous medievalist Zaza Aleksidze,
also specialists from Dagestan and Russia will participate in the
conference.

ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN YOUTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN EGYPT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1 TO 3

Noyan Tapan
Aug 21, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The delagation composed of Armenian
young people will take part in the youth international conference
titled "The young speak, we keep silent. Voices for peace" to be
held in the city of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt between September 1
to 3. The Armenian delegation will be headed by Arthur Poghosian,
the RA Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs.

According to the press message provided to Noyan Tapan by the Centre
for Organization of Youth Measures, about 700 young people from
different countries of the world will take part in the conference
sponsored by Susan Mubarak, the first Lady of Egypt.

The young people will try to make their voices audible throughout the
world by attracting attention to their problems during this conference,
which is planned and organized by young people and is unique in its
kind. The young people will also introduce their national culture
during this conference.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
August 20, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA STATEMENT REGARDING THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE

The Armenian Assembly commends Andrew H. Tarsy, the Anti-Defamation
League’s (ADL) former New England regional director, and its regional
executive committee for publicly acknowledging the historical truth of
the Armenian Genocide. We also salute Stewart Cohen, former Chairman of
Polaroid Corp. and Mike Ross, a member of the Boston City Council, for
resigning from ADL’s regional board in a show of solidarity. In the face
of Turkey’s ongoing worldwide campaign to deny the facts of this crime
against humanity, Tarsy’s principled stand lives up to the promise and
purpose of the ADL’s "No Place for Hate" program.

ADL’s "No Place for Hate" program asks that participants sign a
"resolution of respect," which sets forth the following guiding
principles:

I pledge from this day forward to do my best to combat prejudice and to
stop those who, because of hate or ignorance, would hurt anyone or
violate their civil rights. I will try at all times to be aware of my
own biases and seek to gain understanding of those who I perceive as
being different from myself. I will speak out against all forms of
prejudice and discrimination. I will reach out to support those who are
targets of hate. I will think about specific ways my community members
can promote respect for people and create a prejudice-free zone. I
firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that no person
can be an "innocent" bystander when it comes to opposing hate. I
recognize that respecting individual dignity, achieving equality and
promoting intergroup harmony are the responsibilities of all people.

We deeply regret that Tarsy was fired for speaking the truth, and for
challenging what he calls ADL’s "morally indefensible" decision to
oppose Congressional legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide.
U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, described those
events as a "campaign of race extermination" against the Armenian
people.

As a people who have been subjected to the most egregious and extreme
form of hate – namely the attempted annihilation of their entire people
– Armenians around the world stand with those who have faced similar
atrocities. It is especially incumbent upon victimized communities to
stand together against hatred, bigotry and denial.

American Jewish community organizations have been divided for too long
and have an opportunity to demonstrate their moral leadership by
standing with the Armenian people and answering Hitler’s chilling
question: "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians?" A first step would be to fully support Congressional
legislation, which affirms the Armenian Genocide: H. Res.106 and S.
Res.106, pending in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
respectively.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###
NR#2007-096

ADL recognizes Armenian genocide

Jewish organization makes dramatic U-turn four days after sacking
regional director
Yaakov Lappin
Published:
08.21.07, 20:21 / Israel Jewish Scene

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has formally recognized the genocide
of Armenians at the hand of Turkey in a statement released on Tuesday,
markinga dramatic U-turn over the organization’s position on the
issue.

Between 1915 and 1918, some 1.5 million Armenians died in Ottoman
Turkey. Many of them perished during – or were shot after – forced
marches across hundreds of miles, commonly known as death marches.

Just four days ago, the ADL sacked its New England Regional Director,
Andrew H. Tarsy, who blasted the organization for failing to recognize
the genocide. During a phone conversation with the ADL’s national
director, Abraham Foxman, Tarsy said he found the ADL’s position on
the issue "morally indefensible".

Tarsy’s sacking resulted in widespread condemnation across the
American-Jewish community.

In a press statement released Tuesday, the ADL said: "In light of the
heated controversy that has surrounded the Turkish-Armenian issue in
recent weeks, and because of our concern for the unity of the Jewish
community at a time of increased threats against the Jewish people,
(the) ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy that befell the
Armenians."

"We have never negated but have always described the painful events of
1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as
massacres and atrocities. On reflection, we have come to share the
view of Henry Morgenthau, S r. that the consequences of those actions
were indeed tantamount to genocide. If the word genocide had existed
then, they would have called it genocide," the ADL said.

‘How will this affect Turkish Jews?’

In the statement, Foxman said, "I consulted with my friend and mentor
Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and other respected historians who
acknowledge this consensus. I hope that Turkey will understand that it
is Turkey’s friends who urge that nation to confront its past and work
to reconcile with Armenians over this dark chapter in history."

The statement added, however, that the ADL would continue to be
opposed to attempts by Armenian-Americans to pass a resolution in the
US Congress aimed at garnering recognition of the genocide.

"We continue to firmly believe that a congressional resolution on such
matters is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster
reconciliationbetween Turks and Armenians and may put at risk the
Turkish Jewish community and the important multilateral relationship
between Turkey, Israel and the United States," the statement said.

Speaking to Ynetnews, an ADL source said the organization had
traditionally taken its lead over the issue from the Turkish Jewish
community. The source also expressed concern for the welfare of the
Jewish community in Turkey following the statement.

"How will this affect Turkish Jews? Who knows what repercussions will
be," the source said. "We changed our position and we hope Turkish
government doesn’t take it out on the Jews," the source added.

"The ADL has always sought guidance from the Turkish Jewish community,
which has told us to back the Turkish government on this. So we have
always backed Turkey’s stance," the source said.

The source added that the episode was sparked by an event held
recently by the Armenian community in Boston, called ‘No Place for
Hate’ – an event theADL was supposed to take part in.

"We pulled out because they said we’re hypocrites," the source said,
adding: "The head of ADL in Boston came out in favor of changing our
position… he was fired. This caused a lot of tension, and it caused
a reexamination of our position. As a result, our position has
changed."

BBC Monitoring
Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1020 gmt 17 Aug 07
Azeri leader guarantees Armenian sportsmen’s security – wrestling spokesman

The head of the Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation has said that
President Ilham Aliyev will personally guarantee the security of
Armenian sportsmen during the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship
in Baku in September2007, the Azerbaijani news agency Turan has
reported.

Cavid Qurbanov said that more than 30 Armenian sportsmen will be
visiting Baku to participate in the championship, Turan said.

At the same time, the Karabakh Liberation Organization, a pressure
group that opposes any ties with Armenia, has spoken out against the
Armenian sportsmen’s visit to Baku. The organization thinks it is
unacceptable to allow Armenians to visit Azerbaijan, Turan said.

Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1020 gmt 17 Aug 07

KIRAKOSIAN: THE GREATEST THREAT TO ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY COMES NOT FROM ABROAD
By Tugba Altinkum

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 15 2007

Richard Kirakosian said that the threat to Armenia’s national security
comes from inside. Mr. Kirakosian argued that corrpuption is more
mortal threat to armenia than the abroad actors.

"The greatest threat to Armenia’s national security comes not from
abroad, but from inside. Armenian statehood is most threatened by
global regress, caused by corruption and so-called "good management"
he added.

Kirakosian further considers that the membership of Turkey the European
Union will be beneficial to Armenia, as the borders of the EU will
draw nearer to Armenia and Turkey become constrained by the European
"strait-jacket". Mr. Kirkosian claimed that Turkey’s EU membership
will make contribution to Turkey-Armenia security relations.

WHAT ALLOWS FOR FIRING ACTIVITY? SKIRMISHES ALL ALONG THE FRONT LINE ARE INCESSANT
R. Orujev
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Source: Ekho (Baku), August 9, 2007, EV
Agency WPS
Defense and Security (Russia)
August 15, 2007 Wednesday

Azerbaijani military experts comment on the deterioration on the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

Units of the Armenian regular army keep making fun of the cease-fire
regime all over the front line and along the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border. The impression is that this activeness grows with each
passing day.

The Defense Minister of Azerbaijan issued a special press release.

The document states that the Armenians kept violating the truce all
over the front line on August 6 and 7. The Azerbaijani regular army
was compelled to return fire. No casualties were reported.

The Press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry maintains
in the meantime that the Armenians keep torching the occupied
territories. Units of the Armenian army set fire to the pastures 2.5
kilometers southwest of the settlement of Ashagy Veiselli, Fizuli
district. This activity lasted from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on August 6.

It’s hard to say what compels the Armenians to be so active in the
midst of an already scorching summer. No prominent political events
are taking place in the region and no Azerbaijani-Armenian talks are
under way. Here are comments by two Azerbaijani military experts.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Timoshenko, ex-deputy of the parliament,
refuses to consider what has been happening a political act. "No, I do
not think they are doing it on orders from the political leadership. I
do not think it is an attempt to gauge the reaction of Azerbaijan
or to decide how much pushing it will take. The way I see it, it is
the uncontrollable processes under way in the Armenian army that are
to be blamed," Timoshenko said. "We have to thank local Armenian COs
for it… It is not Armenia angling for another war. It is not ready
for the hostilities."

Rauf Rajabov, Afghani war veteran and Dengi magazine editor, is
of the opinion that the motives behind what is happening are both
military and political. "From the military standpoint, the Armenians
are trying to discover weapons emplacements and our strong and weak
points. The enemy is out to find potential breaches in our defense,"
Rajabov said. "From the political standpoint, all of that is supposed
to show us that all negotiations under way and all principles we have
so far agreed upon exist only on paper. That the Armenian leadership
is not ready for an actual agreement yet. Hence all this firing. The
military cannot exceed the limits and frames set for it by the
political masters. I suspect that this activization is a link in the
chain that even affects Georgia – I mean the recent bombing incident.

All of that is happening because the UN General Assembly is about to
discuss the matter of suspended conflicts on GUAM’s insistence. These
are acts of intimidation of Azerbaijan and Georgia for the brashness
of bringing the matter up to the international level."

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ANALYST CONSIDERS TURKEY’S POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP IN EU POSITIVE

Noyan Tapan
Aug 14 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by U.S. Congress will not threaten the interests of the
United States. This conviction was expressed by Richard Kirakosian,
an American-Armenian analyst, during the August 14 discussion
on the subject "The recognition of the Armenian Genocide, its
consequences, influence on Armenian-Turkish relations and American
foreign policy." In general, according to Richard Kirakosian, the
issue of the Armenian Genocide in itself is not a decisive one in
Turkish-American relations, as both of the countries are interested in
another issue: the stability of Iraq, each from its own point of view.

Richard Kirakosian mentioned that the issue of the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide is not the only important one in the context of
Armenian-Turkish relations: the issue of opening borders with Turkey
is more important for Armenia. According to him, the economic blockade
implemented by Azerbaijan and Turkey is dangerous for Armenia. And
as for the opening of borders with Turkey, R. Kirakosian believes
that it can prove dangerous only for several powerful personalities
of Armenia, who enjoy import monopoly for this or that kind of goods.

Richard Kirakosian considers the possible membership of Turkey in
the European Union positive for Armenia, as in this case the borders
of the European Union will reach Armenia. And as for the membership
of Turkey in the European Union, according to R. Kirakosian, it can
prove somewhat dangerous for EU member countries, from the point of
view of the Islamic terrorism.

GALUST SAHAKYAN ADVISES TO SUBMIT TO SERZH SARGSYAN’S VICTORY

Panorama.am
13:46 15/08/2007

"Political forces demonstrate some activism. It is natural since
the presidential elections are ahead," Galust Sahakyan, member of
the Armenian Republican Party (HHK), told reporters at Club Pastark
today saying the political teams are engaged in "intelligence" now.

In his words, the attempts to set up a union in the opposition chamber
remind him of "Gathering of Mice," the famous writing of Khnko Aper,
Armenian writer of fairy tales and children’s stories. Sahakyan
believes "the opposition has a big field of cooperation" bringing
the example of 1995 when HHK cooperated with the ruling Pan-Armenian
National Party (HHSh) around some principle issues despite of being
an opposition party. Just to recall, HHK ceased being an opposition
after that.

"The parliamentary elections indicated that the opposition holds 20-25
percent of votes and in case it manages to utilize that 20-25 percent,
it would be good job," Sahakyan said.

Referring to the participation of Serzh Sargsyan in the presidential
elections, Sahakyan noted: "One must submit to the idea that the
Republican will have a decisive role in the presidential elections
and must have a president. All other issues may be tackled in the
political field based on the principle of cooperative acts."

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

August 14, 2007

ACNIS Explores the Ramifications of United States
Genocide Recognition on Foreign Policy

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a discussion on the foreign policy surrounding
Armenian-Turkish and US-Turkish relations. The meeting brought
together officials of international relations, leading analysts,
policy specialists, and diasporan university students interning among
various governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
Republic of Armenia and media representatives.

In his opening remarks Mr. Haig Kherlopian, student of the American
University in Washington D.C. discussed the current status of House
Resolution 106 which officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide of
1915. "The American Diaspora is raised with the mentality that passing
legislation to recognize the Genocide is critical for the well-being
of the collective Armenian identity. It is important, however, it is
also important to understand the American government’s perspective,"
he said.

Analyst for the Caucasus region and Central Asia Mr. Richard
Giragosian shared his expertise on the specific consequences that may,
in his professional opinion, befall the three states concerned if
America’s government does indeed pass pending genocide legislation in
the American House of Representatives.

The seminar focused mainly of those risks concerning military and
economic relations to which Mr. Richard Giragosian former staff-member
of the Joint Economic Committee on the United States’ Congress
commented that Turkey is currently struggling to forge a new national
identity and this struggle will determine whether Turkey will look to
the East or to the West. According to Giragosian, it is in Armenia’s
interest that Turkey joins the European Union because, "Turkey within
the straight-jacket of the EU will result in a weakened Turkish
military and bring European borders to Armenia".

Ms. Talar Hovnanian, Student of the Univerity of California, posed a
question for discussion to the diasporan university students present
reflecting on the ways in which Armenians abroad will be able to unify
themselves without a cause such as the Armenian Genocide as
motivation, exploring, "the likelihood that after the issue of
genocide recognition is taken off of the table, whether it is possible
for the Diaspora to unify themselves on a critical but little known
issue like diverted rail-roads or democratic development". The
participants concluded that it is the Diaspora’s responsibility to
begin to view the Armenian situation with a more practical point of
view rather than the ideological unifying platform provided by the
need for genocide recognition.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2007, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit