Author: Kajoyan Gevork

WHEN TELLING THE TRUTH IS A FIRING OFFENSE (AND SUPPORTING GENOCIDE DENIAL GETS YOU PROMOTED)
By: Aram Hamparian

Wed, May 25 2011

So, what exactly are the rules governing the U.S. government’s gag
rule prohibiting mention of the Armenian Genocide?

What precisely are the details and dictates of our own American
version of Turkey’s Article 301?

Would a public reading by human rights advocate Samantha Power,
who now works for the National Security Council, of her Pulitzer
Prize-winning book, A Problem from Hell, be a firing offense?

President Obama, as a Senator, called President Bush’s refusal to
recognize the Armenian Genocide “inexcusable,” and sharply criticized
Secretary of State Rice for recalling Ambassador John Evans from
Yerevan for speaking honestly about this genocidal atrocity. Yet
President Obama today presides over a government that, by all accounts,
would fire any of its diplomats who told the truth about this crime,
by for example reading aloud the President’s own campaign statements
promising to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Consider the rich and profoundly painful irony: President Obama
came into office on a bold pledge of truth-telling, but once in
the White House-having pocketed the votes of the Armenian American
community in a series of tightly contested primary races-turned his
back on his promise, effectively threatening to fire any diplomat or
other government employee who actually lived up to his own campaign
commitment.

Adding to the dramatic disconnect between this and past
Administrations’ words and actions on the Armenian Genocide is the
new revelation (via Wikileaks) that, despite all the hollow rhetoric
about U.S. leaders pressing Turkey to genuinely accept the truth
of its own history, behind closed doors, State Department officials
are secretly sharing ideas with the Turkish government about how to
most effectively prevent the elected representatives of the American
people from speaking openly and honestly about this human rights
issue. A recently released cable reveals that Matt Bryza-who was then
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and has since been given a
recess appointment as Ambassador to Azerbaijan-met with senior Turkish
government official in March of 2004 and discussed the defeat of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution. Click here for the link to a story on
this morally shocking, but-sadly-not very surprising revelation:

Which brings us back to the question: What exactly are the rules?

Who can get fired for mentioning the Armenian Genocide? An Ambassador,
a lower level State Department employee, a top White House political
or policy aide, or a simple entry-level administrative clerk? What
about a contract employee?

What about an Armenian national who works for the U.S. Embassy
in Yerevan? Would he or she be obliged to refrain from a truthful
accounting of their own history?

Would a public reading by human rights advocate Samantha Power,
who now works for the National Security Council, of her Pulitzer
Prize-winning book, A Problem from Hell, be a firing offense?

Would it be cause for termination for an Administration official to
acknowledge that the Armenian Genocide is a fact, during a private
meeting with Armenian Americans (as dozens have done in meetings
I’ve attended)?

What about officials writing honestly about the Armenian Genocide
in internal government memos and cables? What happens if Wikileaks
makes them public?

Would a Facebook or Twitter post of the term “Armenian Genocide”
get an Administration official fired? What if it’s on their own
time? What if they don’t work for the Department of State, but the
Department of Agriculture?

The questions go on and on, getting more and more ridiculous, all
pointing to the inevitable conclusion that-for our self-respect as
Americans, as much as for anybody else-we must, at long last, reject
Turkey’s shameful veto on U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“SWEET” WORD CONSPIRACY
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:20:34 – 25/05/2011

The president of Georgia Mikhayil Sahakashvili reported the “ears” of
Russia sticking out behind the protests of the opposition, announcing
that Putin is unable to digest the success of reforms in Georgia.

Sahakashvili may be right, considering that a few months ago Putin met
with one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition Nino Burjanadzeh,
who is leading the series of protests on these days. Besides,
the Russian government and especially Putin have bluntly expressed
their dislike for Sahakashvili who would not agree to fall under the
influence of Russia and is facing NATO.

On the other hand, however, even Sahakashvili the reformer displays
a trait which is typical of non-open-minded reformers, provincial
cravers for power. The external “ears” is meant. In one country,
they discern the ears of the West, the Jewish-masonry conspiracy,
in another country they discern the ears of “Russia”. In the long
run, the difference is not great. In Armenia, for instance, the
most popular theory is that of the Jewish-masonry conspiracy, and
in February 2008 the flags of the European Union, the United States,
Ukraine and Russia were waving on the square but the news program of
the First Public Channel only broadcast the flag of Israel.

In the meantime, whatever “opposition” goes on the street, which is
represented by the citizens of the given country, and if thousands
of citizens of the given country or at least hundreds of citizens
protest, the government must listen to their voice and answer them
comprehensively. Otherwise, it seems to be the most convenient thing
to discern “external conspiracy” behind every unwanted protest or
criticism.

Responding to criticism by the theory of “conspiracy” is tempting
but free-thinking elite of reformers differs from simple cravers
for power by the ability to listen to criticism, respond to it, and
benefit from it. The leaders are not meant because the leaders may
carry out an order from the outside but those who join the leaders
are the citizens of the country for who protest and demands set forth
to the government is not leisure and pleasure.

The theory of “conspiracy” does not solve the problem, even though it
sounds convincing or real. The problems are solved through listening
to the voice of the citizens, understanding them and giving them
clear response.

EXPERT: JAVAKHK POSES NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO GEORGIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

PanARMENIAN.Net

May 25, 2011 – 08:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On May 23, the International Crisis Group (ICG)
published a report covering the problems of Javakhk, entitled “Georgia:
The Javakheti Region’s Integration Challenges.”

As political analyst Johnny Melikyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter,
the ICG report “is dedicated to Javakhk only, unlike its previous
report on Georgia’s regions with both Armenian and Azerbaijani
population.”

He noted that according to the report, the situation in Javakhk is more
or less stable, and the region poses no immediate threat to Georgia’s
territorial integrity. “ICG’s experts suggest official Tbilisi to pay
attention to the region’s problems, particularly in social and economic
fields. Another important innovation is the recommendation to ratify
the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML), which
was signed, but not ratified yet, by Georgia,” Melikyan said, adding
that experts emphasize the stabilizing role of Yerevan in the region.

As regards the issues not covered by the report, Melikyan noted the
failure to mention the problems of Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia
and in Javakhk particularly. “The problems of Armenian activists
in Javakhk are not sufficiently covered, though the authors touched
upon the case of Vahagn Chakhalyan, who is still kept in custody. The
enhanced police presence and its influence on the internal political
processes in the region was not given proper attention either,”
he said.

Speaking about the reaction of the official Tbilisi, Melikyan said that
Georgian authorities will apprehend it properly, because it contains
facts, analysis of situation in the region and recommendations on
the resolution of existing problems.

PM CONFESSES NEGATIVE OCCURRENCES IN ARMENIA

news.am
May 25, 2011 | 21:33

YEREVAN. – There are many negative occurrences in Armenian reality
– corruption, bribery, unsatisfying correlation of taxes and GDP,
problems in competition field – said Armenian PM Tirgan Sargsyan
on Wednesday.

The PM marked that current Armenian Government is responsible for
the problems former Cabinets left behind. He explained the reason
of social-economic difficulties with international financial crisis
consequences and said that in struggle against corruption surgical
solutions are required. Among those he mentioned publication of
declarations of incomes and assets of 600 MPs and high rank officials.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARRMENIAN FUND HAS RENOVATED THE TOGH VILLAGE SCHOOL

hetq
12:43, May 25, 2011

Hayastan All-Arrmenian Fund has renovated and furnished the right-wing
block and gymnasium of the Togh village school in Nagorno Karabakh’s
Hadrut region. As a result of the two-stage project, the school
(1560 sq.m area ) now stands new and welcoming.

On the eve of its 50th anniversary the school will make the community
admire its new appearance. An art center will also function in
the school, which is designed for youth of Togh and 10 neighboring
villages. The upgraded sport facilities will ensure a full physical
education at the school.

On May 24, the official opening of the school’s second block took
place.

INSPECTIONS OF BUSINESSES IN ARMENIA TO BE BASED ON RISK ASSESSMENT

/ARKA/
MAY 25, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, Armenian National Assembly
passed at the first reading amendments to the law on inspections.

These amendments imply transition to inspections based on risk
assessment.

Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan, presenting the bill to lawmakers,
said that the amendments imply new fundamental changes in organization
of inspections of businesses. They propose to divide economic entities
into three groups – high, moderate and low-risk categories.

The minister pointed out some faults in the current system of
inspections, which often were unnecessary and displeased entrepreneurs.

He said that only high-risk businesses would be inspected.

It is also planned to create database of results of inspections.

Frequency of inspections will be restricted – high-risk economic
entities will be inspected no more than once a year, moderate risk
companies once in three years and low-risk businesses once in five
years.

Special forms filled by economic entities will be taken as basis
for inspections.

“This is a crucial step that changes inspection principles and will
spur development of small and mid-scale businesses, since rules of this
game will be simple and clear and will create favorable environment
for those companies doing their business above board,” Davtyan
said. Artsvik Minasyan, MP from Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun, speaking at the same parliamentary session, said that
the present inspection system in Armenia is blighted with corruption
and targeted on small and medium companies.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AMENDS LAW ON NOTARY

/ARKA/
MAY 25, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 25. / ARKA /. /. The Armenian parliament has passed
today in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the Law
on Notary which soften requirements for running notary activity.

Justice minister Hrayr Tovmasian said the changes call for cutting the
duration of mandatory training period for notaries from 12 months to
6 months. Another amendments says that only an Armenian citizen with
at least five year record of working as a lawyer can be appointed as
a notary.

DIYARBAKIR MAYOR: CURRENT KURDISH GENERATION IS THE LAST TURKISH STATE CAN TALK WITH

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 25, 2011 – 15:18 AMT

Last week Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir gave a warning to Turkish
authorities.

Baydemir, seen by many as one of the moderate voices in the Peace
and Democracy Party (BDP), said that the current leaders of the BDP
“are the last Kurdish generation that the Turkish state can negotiate
and shake hands with.”

According to him, there is a new generation that is not willing to
compromise anymore, and their radical stance has started to influence
some of the older generation as well. “A major gap has developed
in the way people in Turkey’s West and East feel about each other,”
Baydemir stated. “We no longer can sympathize with each other. This
is unfortunate, but it is how it is.”

“The party that will profit from this disillusionment on June 12 is
the BDP. But even the BDP seems to have only limited opportunities
to check and control the new radicalism in the Southeast. After the
elections the AKP and the BDP will have the chance, one more time,
to sit down and find a historic compromise on the Kurdish question,
with the support of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) that under
Kilicdaroglu has indicated its willingness to cooperate constructively
on this issue. It seems to be the last chance for this generation of
Turkish and Kurdish politicians. If they fail again, I am afraid that,
unfortunately, Baydemir will be proven right,” Sunday’s Zaman quoted
Baydemir as saying.

RA MINISTER OF ENERGY CONFIRMS DISMANTLEMENT OF NAIRIT PLANT OUTDATED EQUIPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 25, 2011 – 18:28 AMT

During a governmental hour in the parliament, Armenian Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan commented on rumors
around dismantlement of Nairit chemical plant equipment.

Currently, outdated equipment of the plant is being dismantled, it is
sold as scrap, Movsisyan said. “It is a normal process and there is
nothing extraordinary in it. First, technical condition of equipment
is defined, after which a decision on its dismantlement is adopted,”
noted Movsisyan.

Referring to the plant’s debts to employees, the Minister said Nairit
has not paid salaries for two months. “The plant will repay also
these salaries soon,” concluded Movsisyan.

MIKAEL MOURADIAN NAMED NEW BISHOP OF THE ARMENIAN CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF US AND CANADA
Mikael Mouradian

asbarez
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the United States of America and
Canada is happy to announce that the Most Reverend Mikael Mouradian
has been appointed as the new bishop of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy
of the United States and Canada. He succeeds at that function to
the Most Reverend Manuel Batakian who had presented his resignation,
having reached the canonical age prescribed by the Cod of Canons of
the Eastern Catholic Churches.

The new eparch was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 5th, 1961. He
was been admitted first to the seminary of the Patriarchal Clergy of
Bzommar in 1973 and to the Pontifical Armenian College of Rome in
1981, attending the “Angelicum” Pontifical University of Dominican
Fathers and being graduated there by the theological and philosophical
licenses. He has been specialized in the youth pastoral at “Institut
Catholique” of Lyon, France in 1986.

Fr. Mouradian has been ordained a priest on October 24, 1987, in Paris,
by His Excellency Bishop Krikor Ghabroayn, as a member of the Institute
of the Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar.

After his ordination, Fr. Mikael fulfilled the following missions:
assistant rector of the seminary of Bzommar (1987-1988), assistant
rector of the seminary of Aleppo ( (1988-1989), pastor of the
Armenian Catholic church of Our Lady of the Universe in Damascus,
assistant pastor of the Holy Cross parish in Zalka, Lebanon (1991),
pastor of various Catholic communities in the Northern provinces
of Armenia (1992-2001), secretary general and executive director of
Caritas-Armenia (1995-2001). He has been granted by the Ministry of
Culture and Science of Armenia the title of honorary professor in
the pedagogical faculty of Armenia in 2000.

Returning to Lebanon, Fr. Mouradian had been appointed pastor of
Our Lady of Annunciation parish in Beirut, Lebanon (2001-2005, then
spiritual director of the seminary of Bzommar and chaplain of the
Armenian Catholic youth organization. He collaborated at the same
time to the redaction of the Patriarchate’s official review.

Fr. Mouradian has been nominated Rector of the Pontifical Armenian
College of Rome in 2005, as well as Armenian Catholic Patriarchate’s
Procurator to the Holy See, in Vatican.

On September 5, 2007, the General Assembly of the Institute of the
Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar elected him as the Patriarchal Vicar
of the same Institute and Superior of the Monastery of Our Lady of
Bzomamr, a charge that he has kept until his nomination as bishop of
the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of United Statees and Canada, on May
20 of this year.