Author: Jane Topchian

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 11 2005
Turkish FM: We’ll Extend the Use Period of Incirlik
Kemal Balcý
The New Anatolian / Ankara
‘I went to the United Arab Emirates last week. The UAE is in an
incredible economic dynamo. If you look at the map you’ll see two
dynamic countries in the region, one is Turkey and the other is the
UAE’
‘Turkish-Greek cooperation moves forward with each passing day. There
have been encouraging decisions. Very important agreements were
signed. Trade between our two nations is developing. There is
friendship between our leaders, between our premier and his Greek
counterpart Karamanlis’
Speaking to The New Anatolian last week, Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul spoke on recent foreign policy developments and made many
interesting observations. Addressing the controversial issue of U.S.
requests to make greater used of Incirlik Airbase, Gul said that the
permission for U.S. use will be extended in June. The government
doesn’t need to go to Parliament to extend this use for humanitarian
purposes, such as aid for Iraq, he said. `Even if the decision comes
to Parliament, there won’t be any problem extending it,’ he added.
Answering TNA’s questions, Gul discussed Turkish-Greek relations,
developments with Armenia, closer ties with Arab countries, and this
week’s upcoming visit of the Greek foreign minister.
TNA: What will you be talking about with your Greek counterpart?
GUL: We’ll have talks in line with our mutual goodwill. The
friendship between our countries benefits us and the whole region. We
do have many problems. But we’re trying to solve them through mutual
understanding and for mutual benefit. Along these lines, we’re having
meetings and talks. I paid a visit to Greece last year. I’ve been
inviting the Greek foreign minister to visit for a while now. Next
week he’ll come to visit us. His visit will be an important event,
just as our visits are important for Greece. In truth, our
cooperation moves forward with each passing day. There have been
encouraging decisions to increase the trust. Very important
agreements were signed. Trade between our two nations is developing,
our economies are developing. There is friendship between the
leaders, between our premier and his Greek counterpart Karamanlis. As
you know we’re both conservative parties. We invited Costas
Karamanlis before. He came and made a speech to our party congress.
He then became Greek prime minister. The foundation for friendship
had been laid. We are together in Europe’s conservative union the
European People’s Party (EPP). Karamanlis contributed to our
membership in the EPP. His visit will be very successful and we will
discuss many subjects openly. This visit will be provide an
opportunity to improve relations.
TNA: We’ve been holding many talks to improve the relations at a
lower level. Does this visit means that the contacts have matured?
GUL: There were contacts not only at a lower level but also the upper
level. The undersecretaries have been contacting each other for a
long time. They are all goodwill contacts to solve the problems
between both countries and to protect mutual benefits and interests.
I’m hoping that these will yield positive results. We will have to be
patient about these things.
TNA: In recent days, Turkish-U.S relations have gone through a tense
period, especially over the use of Incirlik Airbase. As far as I know
the permission for use will end on June 23. Is the government
planning to extend the permission? And what about expanding the scope
of use? Are demands to use other bases also being made? How is the
government approaching this?
GUL: It is a decision of our government to allow the use of Incirlik
for humanitarian aid purposes. This also falls under a UN Security
Council resolution. It binds all countries that are members of the
UN. It’s related to the aid to Iraq and Afghanistan. Since Turkey
borders Iraq, we’re helping other countries that are helping Iraq. We
can also benefit from other countries’ help if a resolution of the UN
is concerned.
So when the time comes we’ll extend the term for use of Incirlik.
There’s no need to worry. Even if there is a need for a Parliament
decision, Parliament will extend the permission. Not all of the
stones in the Iraq mosaic are in its place. Everybody has to support
this period. There is international legality on this, so there’s no
need for hesitation. We have relations with the U.S. as allies. We
have relations and expectations as allies can have expectations from
each other. We will sit down and talk everything over. In the end,
there will be something done or not.
Incirlik is being used for humanitarian aid purposes for Iraq and
Afghanistan at the moment. This is an open implementation. There is
no secrecy there. There are requests from the U.S. to place this use
in a regular structure. We’re looking into this. We will also explain
the reasons for this to the Turkish public.
TNA: Has the use of other bases been mentioned?
GUL: Nothing else has been mentioned. Clearly the use of Incirlik
will be within the knowledge of the Turkish state. Incirlik is a base
on our soil. The Turkish Armed Forces (TCK) will be informed of all
developments.
TNA: Is the use without the knowledge of the Turkish commanders
possible? How is the government approaching this?
GUL: No that won’t happen. There won’t be any developments without
our knowledge.
TNA:You’ve been visiting surrounding countries recently. If you look
from there, how do you see Arab-Turkish relations? How will these
close relations with Arab countries affect Turkish-U.S. relations?
GUL: Every country has different foreign relations and interests. No
country will tie its relations to only one country. Especially for an
important country for the region such as Turkey, multifaceted
relations are very normal. We’re trying to advance our relations with
the European Union; on the other hand, we’re also trying to
strengthen our relations with our allies including the U.S. We also
have relations with our Muslim neighbors, Russia and other nations. I
visited Russia, China, Japan, Korea and other important nations in
Asia. We signed agreements with each country. I went to the United
Arab Emirates last week. We have economic relations with them as
well. The UAE is in an incredible economic dynamo. If you look at the
map you’ll see two dynamic countries in the region, one is Turkey and
the other is the UAE.
TNA: What does this dynamism mean?
GUL: There’s dynamism in the economy. They have tremendous funds at
their disposal. They have funds amounting to $500 billion. These
funds were directed to many parts of the world for various reasons.
They are looking for new channels to direct these funds. They have
new moves that will be examples to the rest of the world. Dubai
doesn’t have a single drop of oil but they had 6 millions visitors in
the last year. Dubai is a free trade zone, and the seaport in Dubai
is one of the biggest trade centers in the world, including the U.S.
and Singapore. It’s the biggest port in the world. The biggest firms
of the world are based there. They don’t have oil but they have the
sand and sea. But their trade expertise came to such a point that if
you look at Shanghai or Singapore they seem dated.
TNA: Are there Turkish firms in Dubai?
GUL: Of course. There are very successful Turkish firms in the free
trade zone. Big Turkish firms have big investments there. They’re
involved in big projects. I ‘m going to Algeria soon [note: Gul flew
there on Saturday night]. Algeria is a very important country in the
regional bloc MAGRIP. They have a $60 billion budget surplus. There’s
a friendship between Turkish and Algerian leaders.
TNA: What are the recent development in Armenian relations? Are more
flights or opening the borders possible? Or, if the Armenians’
occupation of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh continues, will relations
stay as they are?
GUL: Relations between Armenia and Turkeys are developing. There are
flights and there is an increasing demand. Recently, the Yerevan
Symphony orchestra was invited to play here. They came and gave a
concert in Turkey. Parliamentarians from both sides are coming and
going as well. They are involved in efforts to develop relations and
trying to bring the region into a place where peace can be
established. This area won’t be left neglected for long. I’m talking
about Turkish, Armenia and Azeri relations. We have to proceed with
courage. Certainly we need a long stretch of time and more efforts.
We’re looking at things from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). I hope we will solve our problems.
Source: The New Anatolian, 11 April 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON PRISONERS OF WAR, HOSTAGES AND UNACCOUNTED FOR
AzerTag
[April 09, 2005, 21:29:27]
The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Unaccounted For
of the Azerbaijan Republic announces it has taken necessary measures
towards release from Armenian captivity of Bakirov Ruslan Fagni oglu
(born in 1958), Abdullayev Khayal Idris oglu (1986), Tgiyev Hikmet Adam
oglu (1983) who were taken prisoner in 15 February 2005 and kept in the
city of Khankendi. In this connection, the Commission attracted the
attention of relevant international organizations to this issue, and
has been kept informed of the conditions of the prisoners’ captivity.
As a result of the daily intensive talks with representatives of
the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Working
Group to release prisoners of war and hostages and search for the
missing, the fact of the Azerbaijani soldier’s being in captivity
has been brought to the notice of the global community and relevant
international organizations ensuring thus their security.
Although soldiers’ release became a reality more than once, the
Armenian side would hamper the process every time resorting to
groundless pleas that aroused serious concern of the international
organizations, which have demanded from Armenia a constructive approach
to the issue.
The State Commission has informed in a regular manner the local mass
media, public and parents of the war prisoners on conditions of their
captivity in Khankendi, and with the help of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, they have been allowed to be in
correspondence.
Unfortunately, however, some media organizations display irresponsible
approach to this delicate problem linked with a human’s fate by
disseminating unproved reports from dubious sources. For instance, the
agreement on transfer of three Azerbaijani soldiers to representative
of the State Commission was reached by the mediation of the ICRC with
the Armenian side on April 7. However, a while after the radio ANS
(Azerbaijan News Service) reported April 6 – referring to the press
agency Arminfo and website Panarmenian – on alleged capture of an
Armenian soldier, the Armenian side demanded his exchange for the
three Azerbaijani prisoners. As a result, the release process has
been postponed to uncertain term.
Considering the mentioned above, the State Commission on Prisoners
of War, Hostages and Unaccounted For calls on the mass media to
treat carefully with this very delicate issue dealing with the fate
of prisoners of war, hostages and missing citizens, and not allow
dissemination of unproved and groundless information contradicting
our statehood and national interests.
Baku city, 9 April 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Genocide conference draws scholars
Elazar Barkan, from Claremont Graduate University, presents a lecture
on “Amnesty, Truth, Reconciliation” as part of “The Enduring Legacy
of the Armenian Genocide.”
By Neal Larkins
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
4 April 05
[email protected]
The UCLA International Conference Series in Armenian Studies
commemorated the 90th Anniversary of the Ottoman Turkish genocide of
Armenians in a three-day conference held this weekend.
Richard Hovannisian, UCLA professor emeritus of Armenian history
and organizer of the conference, titled “After Nine Decades ~@”
The Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide,” opened up the event
by asking the mostly Armenian audience how many years the genocide
should be commemorated.
“For the Armenian Genocide to find its proper place, it must be
integrated into the collective human experience,” he said.
Armenian scholars from across the country and world converged at UCLA,
from Berry College in Georgia to Columbia University, and from France
to Argentina.
The first day of the event on Friday was held in Pasadena, and
featured speakers from Damascus University in Syria and Erevan, the
Armenian capital. The speakers at the Friday event spoke in Armenian.
The Saturday and Sunday events were held at UCLA in English.
At the Saturday event at Moore Hall, Henry Theriault from Worcester
State College challenged the common notion that for genocide to
occur, the victim must be dehumanized in the mind of the perpetrator.
He argued that unlike the Nazi killing of Jews during World War II, the
Turkish slaughter of Armenians during World War I was “unnecessarily
brutal” to the point of inefficiency.
“The levels of violence was from the enjoyment of the leaders.
Killing an ant is not that pleasurable,” Theriault said. The more
human the victim, the greater the enjoyment of the killer, he said,
adding, “The Armenians were recognized as human.”
The violence that Armenians believe killed 1.5 million of their people
began on April 24, 1915, and continued until 1923.
In 1908, the Ottoman sultan was overthrown by the Young Turks, the
regime that would commit the genocide.
“At some point a critical mass of Young Turks became
ultra-nationalistic. At some point the ultra-nationalists became
genocidal,” Theriault said.
Speaking about U.S. foreign policy during the genocide, Suzanne
Moranian of the Armenian International Women’s Association said
American policy toward Armenians was “paradoxical.”
The “self-interest that impelled the United States to help the
Armenians is the same as the self-interest that caused them to abandon
Armenians,” Moranian said.
While then-President Wilson pursued a policy of neutrality with Turkey
during WWI, American missionary groups conducted a substantial relief
operation in present-day Syria that was supported financially by both
Congress and private citizens. But “America’s post-WWI retreat from
internationalism” and Wilson’s attention to his planned League of
Nations decreased American support for the Armenian cause, Moranian
said.
She said that the policy for dealing with Armenians in WWI formed
the blueprint of U.S. foreign policy for the future.
The United States has not officially acknowledged that a “genocide”
took place. In his February visit to UCLA, U.S. ambassador to Armenia
John Evans said that the term genocide, created in 1943, should not
be applied to the events of 1915.
Turkey continues to deny a genocide took place. Recently, however,
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan took a small but symbolic step to address
the issue by announcing that Turkey’s official archives would be
opened to historians.
Examining the philosophical and literary response to genocide, Michael
Papazian of Berry College in Georgia said that many Young Turks were
educated in Germany, and that the Jewish “Holocaust was perpetrated by
(Germany’s) most philosophically advanced group.”
“Jewish philosophy can be a guide for Armenian philosophers to come
to terms with the genocide,” he said. He also warned Armenians to “be
mindful not to make death and destruction the central theme in Armenian
history, rather than the Christian ideas of life and rejuvenation.”
Philippe Videlier of the National Center for Scientific Research in
Lyons, France was inundated with many questions after his lecture on
“The Armenian Genocide and French Society.”
Questions from the largely middle-aged and elderly audience were
about the absence of foreign intervention during the genocide and
recognition of the genocide in countries around the world today.
Videlier said France did not intervene with the genocide because they
were occupied fighting a war with Germany, even though at the time
the government and intellectuals were aware of the atrocities. Later,
France was pressured by Turkish government lobbyists into banning
the release of a film about the genocide, he said.
While these statements brought scoffs from the audience, the crowd
offered a roaring applause after he noted that “four years ago the
French government recognized the 1915 genocide.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
March 29, 2005
___________________
EASTER A TIME OF JOY AND HOPE
By Jake Goshert
“Hope” is one of the greatest gifts available each Easter. And this
Easter, it could be found throughout New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral, as 2,000 people packed the pews, joined in prayer, and
stepped forward to take communion.
There was hope in the eyes of new parents, flanked by their young
children decked out in frilly dresses and pint-sized suits. Hope was in
the on faces of old and young, as worshippers joined in singing the Hayr
Mer.
Hope abounded as the faithful filled the plaza to watch Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and others release 12 doves, symbolizing the 12
apostles being sent by Jesus to spread His gospel.
The same hope — a deep and unbending faith in a life to come — in the
past saw Armenians through their darkest hours. By choosing to die to
offer us hope of everlasting love, Jesus affirmed that He would be next
to all those who faced death.
“This is a powerful thought for us this year — 90 years after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915,” the Primate said in his message to the
packed Cathedral. “Our ancestors living in Ottoman Turkey were
captives, awaiting death at the hands of an unjust power. For the most
part, we do not know how they viewed their final hours — although
nearly every Armenian has a story of some lost family member who met his
or her fate with a kind of bravery we can hardly imagine today.”
But hope can be found, the Primate said, in the fact that throughout all
the devastation and death that has haunted Armenians for generations,
and all the pain that will befall us individually, Christ has been there
and will be there beside us.
“What we recognize today, on Easter Sunday, as we contemplate this
sorrowful anniversary, is this: That the losses we have endured as a
people, the scars we still bear today, Christ has borne before us. He
bore them in anticipation of our own suffering. He bore them out of His
love for us, to show He abides with us, in triumph as well as tragedy,”
the Primate added. “He bore them, above all, to assure us that
affliction is not the End. Our hope — the hope of Easter — is that a
day will come when we are made new again: made whole in our bodies and
spirits, and re-united with those we have lost along the way.”
RELEASING THE DOVES
After the inspiring Divine Liturgy — celebrated by the Primate and sung
by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian with Florence Avakian on the organ — worshippers filled the
cathedral plaza for the traditional release of doves ceremony. Barbara
Lorincie served as “godmother.”
“Though she now lives in California, her heart is always with us,” the
Primate said of Mrs. Lorincie. “She has done so many good deeds for the
Armenian people, especially for the children of Armenia through the Fund
for Armenian Relief.”
The faithful were also invited to a reception in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium, organized by Anie and Gregory Manuelian, during
which the Primate performed a home-blessing service. Musical
entertainment was provided by Apo Sarkissian and orchestra.
HOLY WEEK
The Easter services were just the culmination of Holy Week services at
St. Vartan Cathedral, orchestrated by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
cathedral, who celebrated a Divine Liturgy and the Turun-Patzek or
“Door-Opening” service on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2005.
Fr. Chevian also led a special mid-day Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday.
Later that night the Primate officiated over the “Washing of the Feet”
ceremony.
The cathedral also held Divine Liturgies on Holy Friday and Holy
Saturday, sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral Youth Choir, under the
direction of Maro Partamian, and scripture readings delivered by
students of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum.
— 3/29/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, offers communion to one young Armenian during Easter services
at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate is greeted by the more than 1,500
faithful who filled St. Vartan Cathedral for Easter services.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): The crowd gathers on the St. Vartan Cathedral plaza
for the releasing of doves, following the Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Barsamian prepares to release one of 12
doves on Easter Sunday, symbolizing Christ’s dispatching of the
apostles.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): Children release doves following the Easter Sunday
Divine Liturgy at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27,
2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, joined by Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, conducts the home blessing service following Easter Sunday
services at St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vladimir Putin arrived on a visit in Yerevan
by Kira Latukhina
RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
March 25, 2005 Friday
SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 58, p.4
The Russian President Vladimir Putin began yesterday a visit to the
capital of Armenia, Yerevan. The two-day visit is officially devoted
to the opening of the Year of Russia in Armenia. Nezavisimaya Gazeta
writes that the visit’s aim is actually to demonstrate – among the
former Soviet republics still exist such that haven’t fallen under
the influence of the West.
Despite the existence of certain difficulties in Russian-Armenian
relations, Yerevan remains one of the Moscow’s closest allies in the
former Soviet Union.
According to the paper, Vladimir Putin and his Armenian counterpart
Robert Kocharyan have enough to discuss during the talks that will
take place today. Apart from economic cooperation and expansion of
cultural contacts there are issues of reforming the CIS and the recent
crucial changes in the political landscape of numerous post-Soviet
states. Armenia, in turn, is concerned with certain priorities of
the Moscow’s foreign policy (namely, close cooperation with Turkey)
and believes that Russia must demonstrate its interest in Armenia’s
affairs more clearly.
Also, it is expected that after the talks with Kocharyan the Russian
President will finally make an official statement on the recent events
in Kyrgyzstan and comment on his yesterday’s meeting with the Russia’s
top businessmen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USSR archives disprove Armenian genocide claims – Turkish politician
Anatolia news agency
14 Mar 05
ANKARA
Labour Party [IP] leader Dogu Perincek said that the research his
party conducted in the former USSR archives showed that the
allegations that Turkey committed an act of genocide against the
Armenians during World War I are untrue. He said that Turkey should
confront the Armenian allegations by saying, “I waged a war of
liberation and defended my homeland.”
Speaking at a press conference at the IP general headquarters,
Perincek recalled the murder of Talat Pasa in Berlin 84 years ago
after he was accused of being responsible for an act of genocide
against the Armenians and said that the party’s branch abroad will
hold a ceremony tomorrow to remember him where he was martyred. He
asserted that the IP provincial branch in Istanbul will hold a
ceremony to remember him near his grave in the city.
Describing the Armenian allegations related to an act of genocide
against them as an “imperialist campaign”, Perincek said that Turkey
waged a war of liberation from 1914 to 1922. However, he said, Turkey
is now accused of committing an act of genocide from 1915 to 1922. He
asserted: “Our party conducted a research in the former USSR
archives. We established that the Armenian claims that Turkey
committed an act of genocide against the Armenians during World War I
are untrue. A war was fought between the Armenians and the Turkish
state and Muslim people during that period. People were killed on both
sides. The United States, Britain, France and Tsarist Russia were
responsible for what took place. They were the countries that armed
the Armenians and encouraged them to attack Turkey. Their objective
was to divide and share the country.”
Asserting that Turkey waged a struggle to defend itself from 1914 to
1922, Perincek said that accusing it of committing an act of genocide
while it waged a struggle against the imperialists is “absurd”. He
said that Turkey should react to the allegations by saying: “I waged a
war of liberation and defended my homeland. I definitely had the right
to remove those who coveted my territory.”
Perincek claimed that appealing to the United Nations over the
Armenian allegations would be tantamount to abandoning the struggle
waged to defend Turkey. He said that no initiative was taken to
commit an act of genocide against the Armenians in the past.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Outgoing Armenian envoy says US ties considerably expanded in five years
Mediamax news agency
9 Mar 05
Yerevan, 9 March: Armenian-US relations have considerably “strengthened
and expanded” over the past five years, Armenian ambassador to the
USA Arman Kirakosyan has said in his farewell address to the USA’s
Armenian community.
Kirakosyan’s tenure as the Armenian ambassador in Washington will
expire in late March and he will return to Yerevan.
“The proof of the quality of our bilateral relations can be the
fact that today Armenia is a more stable, dynamically developing and
confident country than it was five years ago,” the Armenian diplomat
said. Kirakosyan said that Armenia and the USA are continuing the
political dialogue at the highest level, regularly consulting each
other on security issues and discussing problems of bilateral,
regional and global importance.
The Armenian ambassador stressed that economic and trade relations
have always been in the centre of his attention. Kirakosyan pointed
out that while in 1999 Armenian export to the USA amounted to 15.2m
dollars, in 2004 this figure was 46.1m dollars.

17TH ANNIVERSARY OF SUMGAIT POGROMS COMMEMORATED IN STEPANAKERT
Azg/arm
01 March 05
A human string headed for the Monument to Sumgait Victims in
Stepanakert from early morning to lay wreaths and flowers. Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian, head of Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Church,
served a liturgy commemorating the victims of Sumgait.
The President of NKR Arkady Ghukasian, chairman of the National
Assembly Oleg Yesayan, PM Anushavan Danielian and members of the
government and parliament visited the monument to pay their tribute
and lay wreaths.
Being asked to comment on Khojalu events and Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
strivings to liken two events, President Arkady Ghukasian said: “I
feel pain that a country where Sumgait tragedy took place speaks of
Khojalu. Especially in this case when the facts of Sumgait massacres
are well-known to everyone”. The president reminded that the Karabakh
side opened a corridor for the civilians in Khojalu and said that they
were killed nearby Aghdam and by the Azeris. He cited the words of
former Azerbaijani president Ayaz Mutalibov noting that this confession
leaves no room for doubt that Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys Peopleâ~@~Ys Front
killed people of Khojalu trying to compromise authorities of the day
in order to come to power.
Ghukasian also noted that Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys yearning to turn Khojalu
events into political weapon will do no good for the mutual trust of
the sides in the negotiation process.
A concert by the Artsakhâ~@~Ys State Chamber Orchestra closed the day.
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert
–Boundary_(ID_wq5R5dSufdJqYm5MXOVixg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Understanding Lebanese Armenians
ANI AMIRKHANIAN
Third in a three-part series.
Glendale News-Press
February 19, 2005
In the past weeks I have been looking at the relationships between
Armenian sub-groups. Now, I want to turn my attention to the Lebanese
Armenians, the last sub-group I will be discussing in this series.
Like the other two Armenian sub-groups, the Lebanese Armenian
community is isolated in its own enclave and members tend to group
with their “own kind.”
Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic, in my opinion, about
Lebanese Armenians or “Arevmedahyes,” as they are known, is their very
distinctive dialect. Although the other groups speak in their own
dialects, the Lebanese Armenian dialect varies the most from the other
two.
I cannot remember a time when the three groups ever came together for
a mutual goal. There has always been a divide among the sub-groups
regarding their actions and understanding.
Lebanese-Armenians have always seemed to me to be the more “patriotic”
and most proud Armenians of their culture. That is not to say that the
other two groups are not proud of their heritage, but the
Lebanese-Armenian community has always been involved with activism and
progressive politics.
I recently spoke with a Lebanese Armenian college friend of mine named
Natalie who shared with me some of her observations about the
sub-groups and their relationship to each other.
“I always thought that Arevmedahyes and Barskahyes [Iranian-Armenians]
which are both Spurkahyes [Diaspora Armenians] got along but were both
doing their own thing to benefit the Armenians acculturating as
opposed to assimilating in the U.S.,” Natalie said.
She said “own thing” referring to both groups working separately but
for the same cause. Natalie also said that the different dialects and
cultural differences of the two groups has fueled these Armenians to
go about upholding the Armenian culture in their own way —
separately.
Historically, Barskahyes and Lebanese-Armenians have had a positive
relationship even though they have gone about their own ways —
knowing they were striving to succeed for a common cause.
I do agree with Natalie’s thoughts about these sub-groups, but what
strikes me the most is that they still remain apart and have yet to
establish long-term relationships outside of community and cultural
activism. What keeps them apart in particular is their language or
dialectical disparity.
The dialects of the Barskahye and Arevmedahye sub-groups are on two
separate ends of the spectrum. I also asked Natalie what she thinks
about the relationship between Lebanese-Armenians and Hayastansis. She
said it is one where they intermingle and get along, but what sets
them apart from Lebanese-Armenians and even Barskahyes is their
mind-set.
The former groups are “more westernized in their train of thought,
since they did not grow up under the controlled government of
communism, as Hayastansis did,” Natalie said.
Another Lebanese-Armenian I spoke with, my cousin-in-law Hrant, also
agreed that the sub-groups are more cooperative and have just got used
to each other. Hrant said he had difficulty in the past understanding
the Barskahye dialect.
“I remember when I first came to the U.S. my only real problem was
understanding my sister’s Barskahye friends,” Hrant said. “But then I
mostly figured out their dialect.”
He also said that as a Lebanese-Armenian, he has noticed that the
sub-groups intermarry a lot more. For example, more Barskahye women
are marrying Lebanese-Armenian men.
Despite greater interaction between all three sub-groups, there is yet
still a divide when it comes to “intimate socializing,” he said.
“Most people still prefer to be with their own group,” said
Hrant. “Language, happens to be a prominent reason why Armenians in
general stick with their ‘own kind.'”
There is no denying that to coexist, language plays an important role
with the Armenian sub-groups. The only time when language is not an
issue is when Armenians of any sub-group speak in English, which in
turn the subject of disparity among the sub-groups fades out.
It seems unusual that when Armenian sub-groups speak another language
other than their own, they all become “Armenian” as one group. The
disparity becomes irrelevant.
So then does belonging to a sub-group give people a sense of a more
focused identity?
According to Hrant, “Time still tends to blend everything together
… ”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Minister of Health meets Paghdasarian
Bahrain News Agency
February 9, 2005 Wednesday 6:58 PM EST
Manama, February 09 — Health Minister Dr. Nada Hafadh met here today
with Chairman of the Armenian Parliament, Artur Paghdasarian and his
accompanying delegation, currently visiting the Kingdom.
Dr.Hafadh expressed interest for further cooperation with Armenia
mainly in health and medical fields.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress