Author: Jilavian Emma

Earthtimes, UK
Jan 19 2008

Turks gather to commemorate murder of ethnic Armenian journalist
Posted : Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:47:05 GMT

Ankara – Thousands of Turks on Saturday took part in a ceremony in
Istanbul to mark the first anniversary of the murder of ethnic
Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. The crowds carrying banners with
slogans including "We want justice" and "For Hrant, for justice"
gathered outside the offices of the Agos newspaper where Dink was
shot dead on January 19 2007.

Police closed the streets around the office of the newspaper of which
Dink was editor when he was murdered, in order to allow for the
thousands to take part in the ceremony which included speeches from
friends and colleagues of Dink as well as his widow Rakel.

"What has this country’s justice system done to those police officers
who knew exactly who would be killed," Rakel Dink asked the crowd
after a minute of silence was observed.

Dink was shot dead by a 17-year-old nationalist from the Black Sea
city Trabzon. He immediately confessed to the murder and is on trial
along with associates.

The murder investigation has also unveiled that security authorities
had failed to act on numerous death threats that Dink and his family
had received.

Dink was targeted by nationalists angry at his writings in which he
called on Turkey to acknowledge responsibility for mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman forces during the First World War.

Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands
24 April Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Website:
Email: [email protected]
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

Press Release

Armenians commemorate journalist Hrant Dink

16 January 2008

The Hague, 16 January 2008 – A year ago, on 19 January 2007, the Armenian
Turkish journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul. He will be
commemorated on 19 January in many countries and also in the Netherlands.
Dink was a brave man, who has devoted himself fearlessly for his principles
and he paid for that with his life. On 19 January 2008 at 2 p.m. flowers
will be laid at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in cemetery of "De Boskamp",
Boskamp 5, in Assen. Mrs. E. Wiegman-Van Meppelink Scheping Member of Dutch
Parliament will be present at this commemoration. Beside the solemn
commemoration, a resolution will be adopted demanding among others the
abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code and respecting human
rights and rights of minorities in Turkey.

Hrant Dink was the publisher, head editor and columnist of the Armenian
Turkish bilingual weekly newspaper "Agos". In his publications he promoted
the dialogue between Armenians and Turks. Dialogue and reconciliation were
the nature of the work of Hrant Dink. In that sense he was a bridge builder,
but likewise he was a fighter for the freedom of press and the freedom of
speech in Turkey.

In many countries he was awarded for his work. In November 2006 he received
the Oxfam Novib Pen Award in The Hague from Mr. Deetman, the mayor of The
Hague. In Germany Dink received the famous Henri-Nannen price for his merits
for freedom of press.

Dink was condemned in 2005 under Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code a six
months suspended sentence. On the basis of this Article one can be
condemned, if one "offends the Turkishness" in the authorities opinion.

After his condemnation Hrant Dink became a victim of the political climate
in Turkey. By his attitude he was continuously threatened, but he did not
get, in spite of repeated request, Istanbul police protection. The context
and circumstances of his assassination have not been entirely cleared up to
today.

The refusal of the successive Turkish governments to face and to deal with
the dark pages of their own history, leads to violence and aggression, and
still claims victims, more than ninety years after the Genocide of the
Armenian. Although Hrant Dink brought up the issue of Armenian Genocide of
1915 within the Turkish society in a respectful manner also for Turks, he
had to pay with his life for this brave interpretation of the elementary
freedom of expression and freedom of press. Also after his dead these basic
human rights in Turkey are at issue.

The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) thus
calls the responsible persons in the government and parliament of the
Netherlands, and also the politicians of the European Union to stand up for
these elementary rights in Turkey and particularly to demand now from Turkey
the complete abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on very
short term. If only because of tribute to Hrant Dink, who might well still
be alive without this Article. In spite of innumerable promises by Turkey
this Article, which is in flagrant contradiction to the European standards,
until now still is effective.

Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands

Defense Minister: Armed Forces of Armenia are ready to repel any
encroachment on our country

2008-01-18 21:00:00

ArmInfo. Armed Forces of Armenia are ready to repel any encroachment on
our country, Armenian Defense Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan said in his
talk with journalists.

According to him, any attempt to encroach on borders of Armenia is
bound to be defeated. "We don’t want a war, and I am sure that the
Azerbaijani people don’t want it, either. According to a recent survey
in Azerbaijan, more than 60% of the respondents said they don’t want to
settle the Karabakh issue by way of force, but by peaceful way, by
means of negotiations", the minister said. He also recalled that in the
result of the war, Azerbaijan, as it asserts, lost 20% of the
territories and a million Azerbaijani became refugees. "In the result
of a new war it may lose 20% more of its territories and one more
million Azerbaijani may become refugees", M. Harutyunyan said and
advised Azerbaijan’s leadership not to ignore the opinion of their own
people. At the same time, the minister emphasized that Armenia does its
best to increase the army’s combat effectiveness and preparedness.

SCHEDULE OF THE MATCHES OF THE GROUP 5 TO BE SET ON JANUARY 30

armradio.am
18.01.2008 11:11

The schedule of the matches of the Group 5 of the qualification round
of the FIFA World Cup will be determined during FIFA conference to
be held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia on January 30.

Group B includes the national football teams of Armenia, Spain,
Belgium, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Estonia.

AZERI PRESIDENT RESUMES WAR RHETORIC

ARMENPRESS
Jan 17 2007

BAKU, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev has
resumed his belligerent rhetoric telling a gathering of his country
fellows in Agdam region bordering Nagorno-Karabakh that the war with
Armenia was not over yet.

"Although Armenia repeats from time to time that it has won the war,
it is not true, as only the first phase of the war is over," Aliyev
told Thursday.

Aliyev cited increased military spending and steady economic growth
as guarantees of bringing Nagorno-Karabakh back.

Aliyev claimed that in the past Armenia was ready to pull put its
troops from four regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Now, seeing
the growing economic might of Azerbaijan, he said, Yerevan is willing
to return all seven regions.

According to Aliyev, this is evidence that Azerbaijan will soon attain
to its ultimate goal. He further claimed that authorities in Yerevan
realize well that time is not playing into their hands.

"Nagorno-Karabakh will never be independent. This is also supported
by the international mediators.

Armenia accepts, though unwillingly, this reality, ‘ he was quoted
by Trend news agency as saying.

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: nian.htm
Watch the video summary here:
eos/Requiem%20service%20for%20the%20late%20Catholi cos%20Karekin%20I%20Hovsepiants.wmv

ANTELIAS HOLDS A REQUIEM SERVICE IN THE MEMORY OF GREAT ARMENOLOGIST
CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I HOVSEPIANTS

In the context of the Conference on the "Culture of Cilician Armenia"
organized in Antelias, a requiem service was held on January 14 in memory of
one of the well-known Spiritual Head of the Cilician See, great
Armenologist, historian and philosopher Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiants.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the service held near the "Zarehian
Mausoleum" in Antelias.

Standing near the tomb of the late Catholicos as his worthy successor, His
Holiness said: "I am confident that the soul of Catholicos Hovsepiants is
extremely happy at this moment, when he looks down from his heavenly retreat
to this conference taking place in the new Cilicia he cultivated both
spiritually and culturally- the Catholicosate of Cilicia. As Karekin I
Hovsepiants often himself said: ‘We lost the material Cilicia, let’s build
the new spiritual Cilicia.’ That new Cilicia was the cultural and spiritual
rising in the life of our people through our Holy See."

The Pontiff then invited Vicar General and most senior member of the
Cilician Brotherhood, Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian to give his testimony on
the prominent Spiritual Leader as his former student. The Archbishop upheld
Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiants’ productiveness in spiritual, national,
cultural, historical and armenology-related fields, mentioning some of the
dreams of the Catholicos, which were later realized by his successors. "And
Catholicos Aram I continues on the same path today," observed the
Archbishop.

The Requiem Service was followed by the last session of the conference for
the day which involved discussions on the Cilician Holy Relics and the
renovation of handwritten manuscripts.

##
Watch the video summary here:
eos/Requiem%20service%20for%20the%20late%20Catholi cos%20Karekin%20I%20Hovsepiants.wmv
—-
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos84.htm
http://www.armenianorthodoxc hurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos85.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the 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.

Press Secretary of Armenian FM: Problem around Armenian-Turkish
riverbed border settled

2008-01-15 19:10:00

ArmInfo. Problem around Armenian-Turkish border has been settled, Press
Secretary of Armenian Foreign Minister Vladimir Karapetyan said
commenting at the request of ArmInfo on article in January 15 issue of
Haykakan Zhamanak.

The article says that on the initiative of the Turkish party, Armenia
and Turkey discussed the issue that originated around their Araks
Riverbed border. The Armenian party used the soil for construction,
which has led to extension of the riverbed. That was the matter of
discussions. V. Karapetyan said the last contact with the Turkish party
was in April 2007. There has been no necessity for a new contact since
then, he stressed.

Asked to comment on the same problem, Armenian Foreign Minister said it
is Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan who is
engaged in the issue and delivers soil from the above area.

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: nian.htm
Video link: os/"Culture%20of%20Armenian%20Cilicia"-% 201st%20day.avi

THE CONFERENCE ON "THE CULTURE OF CILICIAN ARMENIA" OPENS IN ANTELIAS

The conference on "The Culture of Cilician Armenia" was officially
inaugurated in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on
January 14 under the patronage of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The
conference is jointly organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the
Mashdots Library in Yerevan and will convene until January 17.

75 experts from around the world, Armenian and foreign Armenologists have
arrived in Antelias to deliver lectures and participate in the conference.

The conference started its discussions with an opening prayer. Bishop Nareg
Alemezian welcomed the attendants on behalf of the organizing committee.

His Holiness Aram I delivered the keynote address of the opening session in
English. His speech became a guideline for the entire conference. The
Catholicos presented a general analysis of Armenian Cilicia and its value in
the life of Armenians. Viewing Cilicia from the lens of its inter-faith,
international and multi-cultural status, His Holiness said: The Cilician
period was enriching for the life and history of our nation in every aspect.
It was the first organized Diaspora of our nation. It was in Cilicia that
Christianity met Islam and vice versa. The culture that was born in Cilician
Armenia could in reality be called Cilician culture with its uniqueness. It
is particularly characterized with a history of wide exposure to the outside
world. The new environment would become cause for the reform of our culture.
Accepting the other without however losing its identity is what made Cilicia
a unique place for our people. Inter-faith life was also enriching and while
remaining true to its theology and creed, our church engaged in dialogue
during the Cilician period, opening new horizons for itself.

His Holiness concluded his speech by stating that "Cilician culture is
neither a historical anachronism nor an appendix or annex of Armenian
cultural heritage. It is integral and inseparable part of Armenian culture
and history, and a major and remarkable milestone in the process of growth
and formation of Armenian culture. In fact, faithfulness to the past
acquires its true meaning by critical openness to new realities and espaces.
Faithfulness to our roots requires a renewed vision towards the future. This
was the path taken by the Armenian culture in Cilicia".

Then he said "Ecumenical openness, spirit of tolerance, engagement in
dialogue and concern for renewal marked the Cilician period of our history.
Questions and challenges pertaining to local and global, dialogue and
identity, faithfulness and tolerance, which the churches, religions,
cultures and societies acutely are facing today, have been boldly and
seriously wrestled with by the Armenian culture in Cilicia. . The present
diaspora is largely the continuation of Cilicia; it is, in a sense, a new
Cilicia endowed with the same culture of dialogue and tolerance. Indeed,
without Cilicia the Armenian culture would have been greatly impoverished.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia remains the inheritor of this sacred legacy and
great vision."

The first five sessions that followed were dedicated to issues related to
the history of Cilician Armenia, its diplomacy and medieval Armenian
universities. Bishop Nareg chaired the first session, during which Edward
Baghdasarian presented a historical overview of the start of the Cilician
kingdom.

The late morning session (11:00-12:30 PM) chaired by Mihran Minassian and
dedicated to historical issues also featured presentations by Claude
Moutafian (French-Armenian relations during the Crusades) and Tamar
Boyadjian (The Mongols according to three Armenian medieval sources).

Anna Balian chaired the first afternoon session (2:00-3:30 PM) discussing
other historical issues. Kevork Der-Vartanian and Vahan Der-Ghevontian
talked about two important periods in the history of Cilician Armenia: The
importance of Hagop Sesetsi’s historical chronology and the role of
Catholicos Krikor IV Degha in the relations between Cilicia and Egypt.

The following session (4:00-5:00 PM) was reserved for the topic of diplomacy
and was chaired by Armen Der-Sdepanian. Jean-Claude Wazen talked about
"Western diplomacy in Cilicia in the 12th-15th centuries", Vahe Tashdjian
presented the topic "The strategy of France to keep Cilicia and its
development", while Kenraig Avakian touched on more recent times by talking
about "The Cilician Armenians in the United States and their contribution to
the homeland."

The final session of the first day (5:30-6:30 PM) convened under the title
"Medieval Armenian universities" and was chaired by Krikor Beledian. Arpenig
Ghazarosian provided a general overview of "The medieval Armenian
universities and places of study of Cilicia." Approaching the topic from a
more specific angle, Hasmig Badalian talked about the "History of the
socio-cultural and educational center of Sgevra" in the 12th-14th centuries.
Finally, Stella Vartanian delivered a presentation on the "Medical School of
Cilicia and its scientific heritage," preparing the ground for further
discussions by the conference.

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos78.htm
http://www.armenianorthodoxc hurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos79.htm
Video link: os/"Culture%20of%20Armenian%20Cilicia"-% 201st%20day.avi
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the 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.

Hovnanian: Housing Slump Is Nearing Bottom

By Brooke Sopelsa
Special to CNBC.com
CNBC.com

| 11 Jan 2008 | 02:40 PM ET

It has been a very tough year for homebuilders, and no one knows that
better than Ara Hovnanian. His company, Hovnanian Enterprises , saw
its stock plummet from $40 in February to just below $6 a share today.

Despite the industry’s downturn, Hovnanian maintains a positive
outlook and sums this up to the cyclical nature of the homebuilding
industry.
`Housing is down; it’s going to come back,’ said Hovnanian. `There
has been a major correction already. We’re certainly near the
bottom,that would be my guess.’
One thing that is giving Hovnanian confidence is the surprisingly
strong December he said the industry had.

`The Fed indicated they might change their stance on rates, Secretary
Paulson indicated their rescue plan for the subprime resets, and all
of the sudden sentiment changed. We had a fabulous December, very
unusual, it’s usually a slow time in the marketplace.’

Skeptics are calling for a 15% drop in the median value of homes
before we see a bottom in the industry, but Hovnanian says there has
been more of a correction than some might think.
`A lot of the house prices they quote have to do with existing prices.
New homes have corrected dramatically more than existing homes, so
that’s already happened.’
Hovnanian says by the end of February we should see data that
accurately reflects the correction the industry has already had.

Solutions

Hovnanian says freezing mortgage resets for homeowners who can afford
the pre-reset price will stabilize the market and forestall
foreclosures, but he would also like to see the Federal Reserve take
more decisive action by further cutting interest rates.

`I think 50 (basis points) would be key,’ said Hovnanian.
`I think it’s going to take even more than that, but that would be a
great move for confidence.’

Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 11 2007

Chairman of PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno Garabagh to visit Azerbaijan
in February

11 January 2008 [16:41] – Today.Az

The delegation composed of the members of the Nagorno Garabagh
Subcommittee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE)
led by the chairman of the subcommittee Lord Russell-Johnston will
visit Azerbaijan in early February, according to the member of the
subcommittee Aneshka Nachilo.

Aneshka Nachilo said the delegation is to meet with Azerbaijani
President and members of the parliament.

The aim of the visit is to have discussions on arranging the meeting
of Azerbaijani and Armenian parliamentarians.

`These are not the parliamentarians who represent countries in PACE,’
Aneshka Nachilo said.

Nachilo noted that following the visit, the committee members will
return to Strasbourg and then leave for Armenia.

/APA/

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