Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

FIRST TURKISH GROUND FORCES ARRIVE IN LEBANON FOR PEACEKEEPING IN THE SOUTH

Associated Press Worldstream
October 10, 2006 Tuesday

The vanguard of Turkey’s ground forces arrived Tuesday to take part
in peacekeeping in south Lebanon, becoming the first troops from a
Muslim country to deploy in the UN operation.

The seven officers are the first of 237 Turkish soldiers who will be
part of an engineering company that will deploy near Tyre to help
rebuild bridges and roads damaged during the 34-day war between
Hezbollah militants and Israel.

Turkish government spokesman Cemil Cicek said Tuesday that the total
number of Turkish personnel would ultimately reach 681 , including
sailors as well as the members of the engineer company.

Turkey has already sent a frigate to help an international naval
force monitor the Lebanese coast, and plans to send other ships.

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country with close ties with Israel
and Arab states. Its contribution to the peacekeeping force was met
with opposition in the Turkish parliament for fear of Turkish troops
being drawn into fighting with fellow Muslims to protect Israel.

Lebanon’s ethnic Armenians community also has protested the dispatching
of Turkish troops, invoking memories of Ottoman rule of Arab countries
and the 1915 mass deaths that Armenians contend was genocide by Turkey.

170 TOUR OPERATORS TO VISIT ARMENIA TODAY
By Karine Danielian

AZG Armenian Daily
12/10/2006

Within the framework of the Year of Armenia in France, today 170
tour operators will arrive in Yerevan. The aim of the one-day visit
is to get acquainted with Armenia’s potential in tourism, drawing up
projects and organizing a new influx of tourist to Armenia.

Agents who organize international tourism will visit Garni, Geghard,
Zvartnots, Tsitsernakaberd and other sites of interest in proximity
to the capital. The visit program is so condensed and limited that
the guests will not have time to know Armenia as it is.

GREECE’S OTE DECLINES RUMORS ARMENTEL SALE COMPLETED

Cellular-News, UK
Oct 11 2006

MOSCOW, Oct 11 (Prime-Tass) — Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE) has denied rumors in the media that it has picked
a tender winner for its 90% stake in ArmenTel, the incumbent telecoms
operator in Armenia, OTE said in a statement Wednesday.

OTE said that the tender has not been yet completed and the company
would make an official announcement in due time.

On Monday Armenian news agency Arminfo reported, citing a source,
that a consortium from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) including
telecom company Etisalat and investment fund Istithmar, had won the
tender for the 90% stake in ArmenTel with an offer of US$600 million.

Besides Etisalat and Istithmar, Russian companies AFK Sistema and
VimpelCom have also bid for ArmenTel, as well as a consortium of VTEL
Holdings and Knightsbridge Associates, OTE said earlier.

ArmenTel has a monopoly on fixed-line and long-distance services in
Armenia. The company also had a monopoly on mobile services until
mid-2005. ArmenTel’s fixed-line subscriber base stood at about 600,000
users and its mobile subscriber base at about 330,000 users, as of
mid 2006. Armenia’s population amounts to about 3.2 million people.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

&quo t;WHERE IS THE PLACE OF TURKEY IN EUROPE?"
ASKS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
IN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CHIRAC

In a letter to French President Jacques Chirac, His Holiness Aram I warmly
greets the president’s comments on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
during his recent official visit to Armenia.

In the absence of the French Ambassador to Lebanon, a delegation from the
Catholicosate of Cilicia formed of Dr. Nora Bairakdarian-Kabakian
(chairwoman of the Ecumenical Department of the Catholicosate) and Mr. Hagop
Shamelian (Chairman of the Properties’ Committee of the Catholicosate)
handed the letter in person to the charge d’affaires at the French embassy.
During the meeting the delegation discussed the issue of the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s membership to the European Union.

Written in French, the Pontiff’s letter says:

His Excellency Mr. Jacques Chirac
President of the Republic of France
Paris

Mr. President,

As Catholicos and spiritual leader of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia,
I welcome, with great joy, your recent comment in Yerevan about the Armenian
Genocide, where, once again, you restated the clear and firm position of the
French nation towards this historical tragedy. The Armenians of Cilicia
particularly were subjected to Genocide and its consequences, as a result of
which, the Catholicosate of Cilicia was forced to leave its historical seat
in Cilicia and establish itself in Antelias, Lebanon.

With its commitment to human rights, law and justice, France serves as a
model to all those countries which continue to deny the Armenian Genocide.

The efforts for the denial of the Armenian Genocide can generate new
genocides. The international community should therefore approach very
seriously to the Armenian Genocide, which remains unpunished.

I believe in the dialogue of cultures, religions and nations. I have
constantly touched on this issue in my addresses, public lectures and books.
Only the acknowledgement and announcement of the truth should lead to
dialogue and reconciliation.

Europe is not merely a geographic continent, neither it is a political
entity. Europe in its essence is a community of cultural and moral values,
based on human rights. Therefore, I ask: where is Turkey’s place in the
European Community?

Mr. President,

Your recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an approach that suits France,
the principles it defends and pursues as well as its unique role in
safeguarding human rights in the world. Mr. President, on this occasion,
please accept my warm thanks and deep appreciation.

With blessings,
His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of Cilicia
5 October 2006
Antelias, Lebanon

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DOES NOT HELP THE BUZAND RESIDENTS EITHER

A1+
[03:32 pm] 10 October, 2006

Though the decision of the Constitutional court to recognise the
alienation of property for the state needs anti-constitution has been
in force since October 1, the residents of Buzand Street still get
call-up papers to vacate their homes.

The Shatvoryans living on Buzand 97 are to vacate their home under
the decision of the Appeal Court.

Their case is now heard in the Cassation Court.

Despite this fact, the Compulsory Executive Service representatives
still visit Buzand 97. "A few days ago they came to say that we
must be evicted in 5 days. We warned them that our case is in the
Cassation Court.

Alik Avetisyan who was among the group, demanded 10 000 AMD for
the warning. As I didn’t have the sum, I gave him 5 000 AMD and I
asked a receipt but they didn’t give me any," says the owner of the
house Armine.

The house formerly belonged to the parents of Armine’s husband but
the family hasn’t been registered so far.

The family relies on the Cassation Court in the hope that they won’t
appear in the street like many residents of Buzand.

SARKOZY RECEIVES THREE RESPONSES ALMOST LIKE A LESSON

Sabah, Turkey
Oct 10 2006

Prime Minister Erdoðan responded harshly to the French minister
Sarkozy who stipulated three conditions to avoid a vote on the Armenian
Genocide bill: However, France should deal with their own issues first.

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday set three conditions
for Turkey to avoid a vote by French deputies on a bill making it
a crime to deny Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of Ottoman
Turks.

1. Historians should not be involved in the commission. The commission
should be a bilateral commission with equal representation. Answer:
Turkey is open and transparent on this issue.

2. Article 301 of the TCK (Turkish criminal code) should be
abolished. Answer: Article 301 has nothing to do with this issue.

France does not have the right to command Turkey to abolish this
penal law. They should deal with their own issues.

3. The Armenian border should be reopened. Answer: Negotiations
regarding reopening the border are ongoing.

–Boundary_(ID_75EySGIZWRkc9OcuyiGQCA)–

Turkish Daily News
Oct 6 2006

Arýnc: EU applying double standards
Friday, October 6, 2006

ANKARA – TDN Parliament Bureau

Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc said yesterday that double
standards applied by the European Union were a reason for an apparent
decline in public support for Turkey’s possible membership in the
25-nation bloc.

"We see that issues we have never imagined are included in progress
reports. That’s to say, Europe ‘shows death as an option and tells us
to agree to [a less dangerous situation when compared to death]
malaria," Arýnc was quoted as saying during a meeting with visiting
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Arýnc used a Turkish idiom in
order to explain that the EU was trying to prepare Ankara for a worse
situation by warning about the worst one.

Arýnc cited mistakes made by the EU as the main reasons for
declining public support for Turkey’s bid to join the bloc and gave
Rehn two examples which show that the EU could demand everything from
Turkey without looking at itself. "You tell us to amend or scrap
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). I tell you to take a
look at the Netherlands, France and Switzerland," he added.

Arýnc mentioned that Dutch politicians of Turkish origin were
removed from politics due to their denial of the alleged genocide of
Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire and in France, the
Socialists have put forth a law that criminalizes any denial of the
genocide and the bill would be debated next week at the French
National Assembly. "A contradiction lies here," he said.

Explaining the second example, Arýnc referring to the EU demands
from Ankara about minority foundations. "Now take a look at Greece.
It does not grant similar rights. [Turkish] Minority foundations
there are not provided with the same rights. Turks there ask for the
same rights but Greece rejects them," he said.

"There were the double standards that have impacted our belief and
conviction about the EU, Mr. Rehn. Please do not discourage our
public," he added and assured that the Turkish government and
Parliament was resolute to fulfill its responsibilities in order to
become a member of the EU without any excuse. "But from now all the
reforms and laws that we will pass will be in line with the same
criteria applied for other EU candidate countries," Arýnc said.

Rehn said it was a part of his duty to inform Turkey about the EU’s
views, regardless of whether they were positive or negative and
called on the Turkish public for calm with regard to the membership
process. "It’s necessary to sort out problems through dialogue.
Everyone should act calmly and with common sense and engaged in
dialogue. Otherwise, we cannot resolve problems and make progress,"
he added.

Rehn also stressed that an amendment of Article 301, which Brussels
says is restrictive of the freedom of expression and that has landed
a string of intellectuals in court for insulting "Turkishness," would
be a strong message that will be included in the EU Commission’s
progress report, due on Nov. 8.

–Boundary_(ID_xvhQQIKsbXoH+/9CYylIfQ)–

The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario)
October 6, 2006 Friday
Final Edition

Orchestra struggle saddens conductor

by LIANNE ELLIOTT, RECORD STAFF

Raffi Armenian is heartbroken to see the symphony he devoted so much
of his life to fall toward financial ruin.

The celebrated conductor was the heart of the Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony from 1970 to 1993, transforming it from an amateur orchestra
to a critically acclaimed organization.

"I don’t want to see my 23 years just melting away," he said
yesterday. "It takes so long to build something and it’s so easy to
destroy it."

The symphony is on the brink of bankruptcy. The board of directors
announced Wednesday that the symphony must raise $2.5 million by Oct.
31 or be forced to shut down.

"My worry is that there is only three weeks to raise so much money,"
Armenian said. "That will be very difficult."

Reached at the University of Toronto, where he teaches, Armenian said
the symphony’s sudden financial crisis leaves him with many
questions.

He can’t understand why the orchestra allowed its financial problems
to get so bad that it only has three weeks to save itself.

The symphony’s general manager, Dan Donaldson, said the severity of
the problems only came to light after the end of the fiscal year, on
Aug. 31.

Analyzing numbers, the symphony realized it was in more trouble than
it thought. This year, pulling through will not be possible. The
symphony realized it would need between $1 million and $1.5 million
to stay afloat and pay its 66 musicians and staff for the rest of the
season.

It will need another million to survive the following year.

One of the main reasons for the symphony’s financial trouble is
attendance. Fewer people are buying tickets every year — about
56,000 tickets were sold in the 2002-03 season, compared to 42,000
this past season.

Armenian says it makes no sense that people in this community aren’t
buying tickets.

Symphony crowds are traditionally made up of well-educated people
with higher incomes and this community has no shortage of people who
fit this bill.

Armenian points out that Waterloo Region is an increasingly
intellectual area, boosted by institutions like the University of
Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.

"You have the best customers," Armenian said. "I don’t understand how
we aren’t bringing these people to the symphony. It’s
incomprehensible."

Armenian said the symphony has to offer programming that people want
to hear or they won’t come.

He said it wouldn’t be fair for him to speculate on what that
programming should be.

He’s been out of the community for 13 years and doesn’t know its
pulse anymore.

One thing is clear, Armenian says, the symphony absolutely needs a
permanent conductor.

The orchestra has been searching for one ever since the controversial
firing of Martin Fischer-Dieskau in 2004.

Fischer-Dieskau, reached at his home in Germany yesterday, did not
want to make any comments on the symphony’s current financial crisis.

Armenian said not having a conductor is harming the symphony.

"It has no leader. Do you know of anything that can work without a
leader?"

The conductor is the artistic director of the orchestra, who decides
what approach the orchestra should take, what music it should tackle
and what goals it should have.

"They have a vision and that’s what you need," said Armenian, who now
lives and teaches in both Montreal and Toronto.

When Armenian filled the role of conductor, the Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony embarked on world tours, made critically acclaimed
recordings and drew celebrated guest musicians to the region. Tickets
sales flourished.

Armenian said it is upsetting to think that such a vibrant symphony
could fall apart.

"I feel immense sadness," he said. "It’s a sad moment for me to watch
this happening."

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
October 4, 2006

Highest Ranking Muslim Cleric in Syria Visits Armenia

In continuation of the unprecedented inter-faith and inter-religious
dialogues and visitations during the pontificate of His Holiness
Karekin II, His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad Badr Ad-Din Hassoun, the
Mufti of Aleppo and spiritual leader of the Muslims of the Syrian Arab
Republic, traveled to Armenia last month upon the invitation of the
Catholicos of All Armenians.  The visit of the Chief Mufti of Syria
occurred less than one year following the visit of the Chief Rabbi
of Israel to Holy Etchmiadzin as a guest of His Holiness.

Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun was accompanied by Sheikh Abdul Fattah Al Bizem,
Mufti of Damascus; Mr. Basel Kas Nasrallan, Secretary for Christian and
Islamic Relations for the Syrian Arab Republic; and Sheikh Muhammad
Abir Hassoun.  Also accompanying the high-ranking delegation was
His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Damascus.

Arriving in Holy Etchmiadzin on September 2, the Chief Mufti was
received by the Catholicos of All Armenians in the Pontifical
Residence.  Welcoming Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun to the headquarters of
the Armenian Church, His Holiness stated, "We are most happy that
your visit to Armenia has given us the opportunity to renew our
friendship and express our respect for the Syrian people."  His
Holiness, recalling his visit to Aleppo in 2001 where he was very
warmly received, continued, "It was a great consolation for us and
our people to witness the love and respect of the Syrian people and
authorities when we visited Der Zor.  We and our predecessors have
always appreciated the brotherhood and friendship of the Arab peoples,
which was most highly manifested in the years following the Armenian
Genocide, when your nation and many others received the survivors
and their descendants in your hospitable lands, giving them the
opportunity to reestablish their lives and families."

Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun thanked the Pontiff of All Armenians for the
warm welcome, congratulating him and all Armenians throughout the
world on the 15th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of
Armenia.  The Chief Mufti spoke of the good relations between Armenia
and Syria and added that the people of Syria received the Armenians
fleeing genocide not as immigrants, but as brothers.  Sheikh Ad-Din
Hassoun also stressed the necessity for peace and tolerance in the
world, and the cooperation and ever-present communication among the
leaders of world religions.  "The past has given us a history of blood
and suffering.  The future must hold a different path for mankind",
stated the Mufti.

As part of the three-day visit of the Syrian religious leader,
the Chief Mufti and his delegation also visited the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial and Museum of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan.  In tribute
to the 1.5 million victims of the first genocide of the 20th century,
Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun stated, "If nations followed their religions,
such crimes would never happen…"

##

–Boundary_(ID_tPwx6htL0+GJ9R 0RqP0ruw)–

ALL PACE MEMBERS HAVE COMMITMENTS ON PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I do not support giving independence to areas
populated by national minorities in Europe," President of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rene van der Linden stated. In
his words, a report on Lebanon, illegal migration to Europe, situation
in Kosovo will be discussed at the PACE plenary session. Russia-Georgia
problems will be discussed between the parliamentary delegations of
the two countries and PACE authorities.

"The relations between Russia and Georgia, which are both members
of the Council of Europe and as PACE members undertook commitments
on peaceful settlement of conflicts, should be solved via diplomatic
tools," he said.

The PACE President also commented on French President Jacques Chirac’s
statement in Yerevan over EU-Turkey talks. "It is not new that Jacques
Chirac has made such statements. The game has already started. You
cannot change the rules of the game while it is on.

Like other European states, France signed a document to start
discussions on Turkey’s EU membership.

Jacques Chirac has made a mere political statement. I do not think
this position is right," Mr. van der Linden said. The PACE President
also said he does not agree to Chirac’s comment on the principle of
determining the fate of national minorities and stressed that he does
not support giving independence to areas in Europe where national
minorities live, APA reports.