Author: Kajoyan Gevork

POETRY – CONCENTRATION OF FEELINGS, OPINIONS, RELATIONS AND COMPARISON

KarabakhOpen
28-03-2008 11:18:58

Saint-John Perse, Kipling, Mandelstam, Armen Harutiunyan, Vardan
Hakobyan, Hovanes Grigoryan, Tatev Soghomonyan, Hasmik Simonyan,
Mane Grigoryan, Ruzanna Voskanyan – the works by these authors were
recited during the evening at the City Hall of Stepanakert. This time
the poems were performed by the students of Mesrop Mashtots and Grigor
Narekatsi Universities. The evening was full of warmth and lyrics.

The evening was organized by the department of culture, youth and
tourism of the City Hall of Stepanakert together with Unity NGO,
the youth wing of the Open Society NGO.

LEVON ARONIAN GAINS TITLE OF WINNER OF AMBER INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Noyan Tapan
March 27, 2008

NICE, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The games of the penultimate, 10th tour
of the Amber International Chess Tournament, which is being held in
the city of Nice, France, were held on March 26. Levon Aronian drew the
game with Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) in "blind" and speed chess, gained
13.5 points and gained the title of a winner ahead of the schedule.

L. Aronian is followed by Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Vladimir Kramnik
(Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary) and Magnus Carlsen (Norway) who have
11 points each.

The games of the last 11th tour are fixed for March 27.

"HENCEFORTH, THERE IS POWERFUL AND ORGANIZED OPPOSITION IN ARMENIA," REPUBLICAN MP SAYS

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. After the formation of the new
government, the authorities should establish a bridge of dialogue
with the opposition realizing that henceforth there is a powerful,
and organized extraparliamentary opposition, which should be talked
to. Making this statement at the press conference, which was held
on March 26, Samvel Nikoyan, the Secretary of the Republican Party
of Armenia faction of the RA National Assembly, mentioned that there
are a number of spheres, where the authorities and the opposition can
cooperate. The opposition members, according to him, can take part
in the establishment of the institute of the Human Rights Defender,
for example, or in the formation of the National Committee of TV
and Radio. Samvel Nikoyan mentioned at the same time that as far
as the leaders of the opposition call those in power "Mongol-Tatar
aggressors", it is useless to speak about a dialogue.

In response to the observation of journalists, according to which
the opposition demands to set free the people put under arrest in
connection with the March 1 events in order to start a dialogue,
Samvel Nikoyan mentioned that one should "distinclty differentiate
between the demonstrators and those making disorders." In his opinion,
if a person has made calls to ruin the state power by force, has
armed people or robbed shops, he should be punished."

Touching upon the newly-created coalition, the Republican MP mentioned
that the Republican Party of Armenia has always been ready for a
coalition activity. "No party, irrespective of the abundance of
its resources, can implement an absolute power. That is why we have
tried to form a coalition, which is also directed at increasing the
confidence of society," Samvel Nikoyan said.

ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH TO HAVE SERVICE IN CYPRUS TO COMMEMORATE VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
March 25, 2008

On May 4 the Armenian Evangelical Church will conduct a service to
Commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The service will
be conducted in the Greek Evangelical Church of Nicosia.

And on May 5 the Armenian Evangelical Church will organize a public
lecture entitled. "The Bible: Historical reflection on the Armenian
translation and its role in developing Armenian National Identity". The
lecture will be conducted by Dr. Manuel Jinbashian from Canada.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 24 2008

GENOCIDE OF YEZIDI PEOPLE IN OSMANIAN TURKEY CARRIED OUT IN 1915-1918

Bill of complaint
To the U. N.,
European Union,
European Council,
U. S. President
President of the Russian Federation
U. K. PM
Federal Chancellor of Germany
President of France
President of Turkey
President of Iraq
In 1915-1918 the upper circles of the Osmanian Empire, taking
advantage of the conditions of the World War, organized and realized
the genocide of Turkey’s national minorities. During a few years the
Osmanian Empire actually completely slaughtered the native peoples of
the country: Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks. Nowadays the world is
aware of numerous facts and details of these terrible atrocities
committed by Turkey’s authorities endowed with state power.
The world’s most progressive countries condemned the Armenian
Genocide in the Osmanian Empire on the state level and mark mournful
data of the Genocide’s beginning together with Armenians, Greeks and
Assyrians.
However, Yezidis, a distinctive and native nation on the territory of
the Osmanian Empire, are actually never mentioned in this sorrowful
list of peoples destroyed by Turks. Meanwhile, even an incomplete
list of settlements of Yezdistan (a territory in the north of Iraq),
where Turkish vandals slaughtered Yezidis, is quite and quite
impressive. According to the territorial regions, the picture of
those killed is as follows:
1. Iraq, the territory of Yezdistan, Sinjar, Sinoun, Gobal, Dgour,
Gali Ali Bage, Dhok, Zorava, Karse and Bare, Siba, Tlizer, Tlzafe,
Khrbade Kavala, Grzark, Rmbousi, Sharok, Tlkazab, Tlbanta, Kocho,
Khotmi, Mosoul, Rndavan, Amadia. Over 200,000 Yezidis were
slaughtered in the above-mentioned settlements.
2. Western Armenia, Van province: about 100,000 Yezidis were killed
in the Khanasori field and surrounding villages: Avagh, Akhourik,
Angouzak, Anzava, Ajali, Srchak, Begrib, Havasi, Bejarmo, Bertis,
Giadin, Gondurma, Zeva, Derjamada Zherin, Derjamada Zhorin, Duavan,
Ghndi, Erjis (Archesh), Tondurak, Khachan, Khojaghshlagh, Khasamiajn,
Kujapnar, Karakale, Kirato, Kolzot, Kjucheq qej, Mervane, Mollahasan,
Muchs, Muradin, Jarmka, Noshar, Shahmanis, Sherefkhane, Shikefti,
Chaldran, Chragh, Chibukhchlu, Pshikumbat, Janik, Saraj, Simar
(Timar), Uste, Orene, etc. About 100,000 Yezidis were killed.
3. Moush province (Kavane qere), the provinces of Avakhe, Diarbeqir
(Dashta Bsheri), Mardini Khazalie (Kharza), Jgire. Azka Zherin, Azka
Zhorin, Alka, Bazidane, Basmute, Bakhms, Berkle, Galie Zilan, Geduke,
Dusha, Ered, Zakhorae, Zeik, Zerine, Khnus, Kakharine, Kavrozje,
Koboldor, Korkhe, Tchneria, Yaduna, Yajre, Yasktiva, Majmunie, Shmze,
Shkavta, Jnaskar, Rame, Frkira, etc. About 60, 000 Yezidis were
killed.
4. Erzroum province (Bayazet-Alashkert province), Ortla, Diadin, etc.
About 7,500 Yezidis were killed.
5. Kars province: about 5,000 Yezidis were killed in the Ozrlu
(Oghuzlu), Alajay canyon of the Kars province.
6. About 3,000 Yezidis were killed in the Kakizmani Kolpe (Koghb)
settlement of the Kaghzvan province, the region of Kars.
7. In Digor province, the region of Kars, other villages: Alashgr,
Alashkert, Amankoyi, Amanchayir, Aylasinjo, Aqar, Bayramqoum, Bajali,
Bashqedikver, Belihamed, Gogormas, Digor (Tekor), Douzgeli, Tokhubur,
Kharaba, Digor Khataba Tchibukhl, Kjundo, Hasanjan, Noka,
Shandrkhghli, Sousoul, Tashnika, Yezdika, Touzak, Ulikand, Pasharjik,
etc. 9, 000 Yezidis from about 70 villages were forcedly converted to
Islam.
8. The region of Sourmalu, Igdir province: Kharfalu, Alchalu,
Aslanlu, Bandamourad, Bash Sinak, Gli, Gyarmashve, Damskhan,
Zaribkhan, Zore, Khane, Khrbesor, Karakhtin, Karaku, Kutch,
Makhsudja, Majri, Shekheri, Sayiblakh, Taoushan, Tashkorpi, Kalo,
etc. About 10,000 Yezidis were killed.
9. In 1918, while crossing the Arpachai (Akhurian) and Arax rivers
about 4, 000 Yezidis drowned and starved to death.
10. The region of Aparan, Eastern Armenia: in the vicinity of the
villages of Alagyaz, Doundaghsaz, Ghuruboghaz and Jarjaris Yezidis
were killed by the bands of Kjandale bash and Navala ajale Kurd
Prince Tajo: in 1918 about 800 people were killed, only 19 of which
were from the family of Rashiteh Ayoy. 54 people were killed in the
village of Amre Taza (Posht) of the same region.
11. Kurd prince Tajo expelled about 600 people from other villages of
the same region to Turkey’s distant regions.
12. 24 people, one of which was a woman, were killed in the region of
Grasor, situated in the vicinity of the Shamiram village, Ashtarak
region, in 1918, within a day.
Thus, according to the total verified number about 500, 000 Yezidi
people were killed.
The Turkish historiographer Katib Tchelebi also informs that in
1915-1918 about 300,000 Yezidis were massacred on the territory of
the Osmanian Empire. However, according to verified data, those years
over 500,000 Yezidis were slaughtered by Turkish and Kurd barbarians,
and the fact has not been condemned by the progressive countries of
the world.
Naturally, it would be especially interesting for specialists to
learn in what settlements and how many Yezidis became the victims of
the Turkish state. So, before the World War I, according to reliable
sources, over 750,000 Yezidis were killed on the territory of the
Osmanian Empire, and over 500,000 of which were massacred and 250,000
more were forcedly deported and found shelter in:
1. Iraq, in the vicinity of Sinjar Mountain, Mousoul, Rndavan, the
village of Fakirs, Amadia, Dhok, the sacred place of Lalysh, Bashika,
Bahzan and other settlements – 100,000.
2. Turkey, in the provinces of Batman and Diarbeqir, 120,000.
3. Syria, in the settlement of El-Kamishli, 15,000.
4. Armenia, 12,500.
5. Georgia, 3,000.
The list of literature
1. Yezdikhana Monthly, 2004, number 8, 2005, number 1.
2. A. Goge `The Voice of Our Great-Great-Grandfathers’, Yerevan,
1997, in Yezidi.
3. A. Tamoyan `We are Yezidi’, Yerevan, 2001.
4. Yezdikhana Monthly, 2006, number 2.
Once again appealing to you, Yezidi people request and demand that
the crime committed against their people should be recognized.
Nowadays the Kurdish Yezidi people scattered by the whole territory
of Northern Asia and Near East require the reestablishment of justice
and recognition of events of 1915-1918 as Genocide. We are convinced
that the defiance of historic crimes against mankind will inevitably
result in a precedent for new crimes. Actually, it is already taking
place. In August and September of 2007 over a thousand of innocent
Yezidis, peaceful inhabitants of the region, were destroyed in the
north of Iraq, in historical Yezdistan.
We urge to restore historical justice and condemn the genocide of
Yezidi people, which took place in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1918.
We do not lay any territorial claim, but request that compensation
for damage caused to our people be appropriate.
Chair -Aziz TAMOYAN – Doctor-Professor of national history and
theology,
The President of the National Unity of Yezidis of the World
Contacts:
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
(+37491) 091 41 38 55
(+37491) 094 55 87 18
(+37491) 095 95 98 60

Hürriyet, Turkey
March 22 2008

Turkey’s leftist anti-AKP journalist to be taken to court over the
weekend

Leftist Cumhuriyet daily’s columnist and chairman of the board of
trustees Ilhan Selcuk is taken to the court with suspected links to
an illegal gang which is accused of paving the way to a military
coup. Private Star TV reported on Friday Selcuk was taken under
custody with the claims "taking over a mission on behalf of an
organization without being the member of the organization". (UPDATED)

Selcuk, 85, was taken into custody on Friday around 4.30 am from his
home. Selcuk’s custody under the Ergenekon operation drew fierce
criticism, some saying it reminded the events happened during the
military junta in 1960s and 1970s.

Selcuk is taken before the judge, who will decide whether to arrest
or release following his interrogation completed, news agencies
reported. Justice Ministry officials earlier told hurriyet.com.tr the
way of taking Selcuk into custody, which drew fierce criticism, was
the decision of the security officials, adding it’s not an ordinary
exercise and there was no such order from the prosecutor.

Critics have said Selcuk was accompanied by two bodyguards appointed
by Interior Ministry and had no way to escape so that he should have
been invited for interrogation instead of taking into custody while
he was sleeping.

In the operation 11 more people were taken into custody in Friday’s
operation including Workers’ Party leader Dogu Perincek and former
rector of Istanbul University Prof. Kemal Alemdaroglu. Perincek was
taken into custody in Ankara and brought to Istanbul for
interrogation, the official Anatolian Agency reported.

Turkish police has searched branches of Workers’ Party and private TV
channel Ulusal Kanal in Istanbul. "Police staged simultaneous
operations at the branches of Workers’ Party, Ulusal Kanal and
Aydinlik magazine in Istanbul and Ankara around 4-4:30 a.m. this
morning," Erkan Onsel, deputy chairman of the party, told reporters.

There is no official statement or indictment on the Ergenekon
Operation. But private Star TV reported on Friday Selcuk was taking
under custody with the claims of "taking over a mission on behalf of
an organization without being the member of the organization".

CUMHURIYET IS ANTI-AKP
Analysts say Selcuk’s detention is a new episode in the secularists
and Islamist groups’ struggle for power. Cumhuriyet is among the
strongest opponents of the AKP government in media.

High-level AKP officials, including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan,
have said the closure case against the ruling party was launched to
cover up the Ergenekon operation.

Selcuk is a very important and prominent figure in Turkey’s leftist
political movement. He was arrested in 1970s following a
military-declared state of emergency. He has been writing columns in
leftist Cumhuriyet daily, which became the symbol of anti-AKP
movement, since 1963 and published number of books such as "I Think
Therefore Shoot Me", "Left-Right-Sharia".

Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday in front of the Cumhuriyet
building in Istanbul to protest Selcuk’s custody and called the
government to resign. Similar demonstrations were held at the
Workers’ Party building in Ankara.

Ibrahim Yildiz, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet, told journalists on
Friday Selcuk’s detention reminded the events of military
intervention into politics from 1971 and 1980.

CHP: "DEEP STATE OF AKP"

The leader of main opposition leftist CHP accused AKP of trying to
create its own "deep state." "Turkey is being dragged into a very
dangerous conflict. This process is not consistent with democracy,"
Deniz Baykal told in a televised news conference in Ankara.

The socialist independent MP Ufuk Uras also showed reaction to
Selcuk’s detention on Friday, saying such threatening actions against
journalists are hurting the public concisness and increasing concerns
on judiciary. "Those exercises should be consistent with law and
fundamentals of democracy. Such anti-democratic and threatening
behaviors cause question marks in the soceity" he said in a statement
on Friday.

ERGENEKON OPERATION

The probe against the Ergenekon gang started after hand grenades that
were issued to security forces were seized at the home of a retired
military officer in Istanbul last June. A retired military commander
and a lawyer were among those arrested earlier. A total of 39 people
have been arrested under the investigation.

Authorities have not commented publicly on the investigation, and
most reports about the investigation have emerged in local media and
are based on anonymous sources. The Ergenekon gang was suspected of
being behind a series of bombings on the Cumhuriyet newspaper offices
carried out last year, Turkish media have said previously.

Newspapers have said the group had been plotting a series of bomb
attacks and assassinations and were behind the killing of Turkish
Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Defense Minister of Armenia: Karabakh conflict must not be settled by
force methods

2008-03-22 21:47:00

ArmInfo. There are cease-fire violations on the contact-line with
Azerbaijani armed forces, but they are less intensive than at the
beginning of the month, Defense Minister of Armenia Mikael Haroutunyan
told journalists in response to ArmInfo question about the present
situation on the contact-line.

The minister said that by 40-45 violations were registered daily at the
beginning of the month. ‘Last night, we registered 12 shots’, the
minister said. He also added that the cease-fire is violated not only
on the contact line of NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces, but also on
the contact-line with Armenian armed forces in the area of Ijevan and
Noyemberyan. ‘The situation is fully under control’, the minister said.
Azerbaijan celebrates Novruz Bairam and has intensified the frontier
guard. As regards 4 March attempt by the Azerbaijani party to seize a
Karabakhi frontier post, Mikael Haroutunyan said: ‘Evidently, the
Azerbaijani leadership understands that one should not make such steps
as they did on 4 March, since they saw the circumstances’. ‘I am sure
they are aware that Karabakh conflict must not be settled by force, it
must be settled at the negotiating table’, the minister said.

MORE ARMENIAN PEACE KEEPERS IN KOSOVO

Panorama.am
15:36 22/03/2008

The number of the Armenian peace keepers in Kosovo will be doubled,
said the Defense Minister of the RA Michael Harutyunyan in the meeting
with the journalists. According to him totally 74 peace keepers should
leave for Kosovo.

The Defense Minister said that some negotiations are being held to send
a peace keeping group to Afghanistan. "Afghanistan needs doctors and
translators. We have the opportunity to provide them such specialists,
but the final decision is not made yet," said the minister.

As for the border line of NK and Azerbaijan and the shootings there,
the minister said that the number of the shooting is decreased but
the strained situation is not softened.

"NKR FUTURE STATUS – A MATTER OF NEGOTIATIONS"

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2008

Karabakh conflict

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov, Bernard Fussier and
Matthew Bryza made a joint statement on March 19 in Vienna that says,
"France, Russian Federation and United States support Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and consequently don’t recognize Nagorno Karabakh
independence, but we affirm that Nagorno Karabakh future status is a
matter of negotiations between the parties", The Co-chairs proposed
to the two Foreign Ministers to organize a meeting of the leaders
of Armenia and Azerbaijan as soon as possible to discuss OSCE MG
Madrid proposals.

Taking into account the recent incidents on the line of contact, the
Minsk Group called on the sides to avoid unilateral and maximalist
actions both at the negotiating table and in public announcements.

Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web:

Interview of Minister Oskanian to ”Aztag” Armenian Daily, published in
Beirut, Lebanon

Question: It is true that the UN vote results carry a message to Azerbaijan,
as you mentioned. But don’t you think that the event conveys a message to
the Armenian side as well? It’s obvious that official Baku wants to take
full advantage of the internal turmoil in Armenia.

Answer: It is true the resolution passed although of course we wish it hadn’t.
However, I’m satisfied with the number of countries that did not support it.
I assess their decisions positively. This is a non-binding, or consultative
pronouncement by the General Assembly, I don’t think it will have an affect
on the process, unless Azerbaijan is engaged not just in deception but
self-deception.
It was unnecessary, ill-timed, mean-spirited, both as a process and a
product.
If they expect to use this for anything other than their domestic purposes,
if they have convinced themselves that the international community truly
supports the one-sided desires they had enumerated in the text of this
resolution, then this will cause serious problems in the negotations. One
thing must be clear for Azerbaijan – that no amount of resolutions will make
Nagorno Karabakh deviate from its path of self-determination.
Show me one example in history when a conflict has been resolved by the
passage or acceptance of a document by an international organization or by
third countries. There hasn’t happened and it’s not going to happen now,
certainly not in the case of Nagorno Karabakh. In 1948, the UN General
Assembly resolution to partition Palestine didn’t solve anything. More
recently, the Security Council resolution on Kosovo also didn’t manage to
bring the sides together in a meaningful way. I remember in Lisbon when the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office made a statement about Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s
joy knew no limits. It took years for Azerbaijan to understand that that
document had no value.
As for the patgam to Armenia, it’s not the patgam of the international
community. It’s the patgam of Azerbaijan alone. By insisting on this
non-binding, non-collective statement, Azerbaijan demonstrated two things –
that it wants to retreat from the Minsk Group process, and therefore from
the content of the document on the table; and that it is only willing to
negotiate what it wants, and not a compromise. That, unfortunately, is the
batgam we have received from all this.

Question: There are signs that such behavior by Azerbaijan may continue
both in the form of ceasefire violations and in increased attempts to
mislead the international public in the diplomatic arena. What do you
foresee?

Answer: Fortunately, we will have an opportunity soon to find out what
Azerbaijan’s intentions are. There is a possibility that Armenia’s
President-Elect will meet with the Azerbaijani President in Bucharest, in
the framework of the NATO-EAPC Summit. We’ve stated our readiness to
participate, I know the co-chairs will make such a proposal, and I know the
Azeris have also hinted that they are ready to continue the dialogue at the
highest levels. During that first meeting this issue can be clarified.
President-Elect Sargsyan can ask President Aliyev point blank – if you truly
believe in the content of this resolution and if that will be your
guideline, then there’s nothing to talk about and let’s not waste our time.
But if you’re still committed to the negotiating document on the table
today, then let’s get serious and go the short distance that’s left.
Indeed, the UN resolution text and the content of the negotiating document
are incompatible; most of the international community recognized this which
is why they did not support it. The international community was also
perturbed by Azerbaijan’s recent serious breaches of the ceasefire. These
two things taken together should indeed make the international community
think whether Azerbaijan is serious about its commitments to peace. We are.
We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to secure Karabakh’s
self-determination and security.

Question: Today there’s a need to change Armenia’s image, as well as to
conduct an accurate and objective assessment domestic political
developments. How do you envision that process, especially when it comes to
coordinating between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora?

Answer: Indeed, Armenia has taken a beating because of the riots and the
deaths. And when the international community comes inquiring about the
situation, they are not interested in asking or knowing who is responsible
for what. They look at this as an Armenian mess, an Armenian tragedy, an
Armenian problem and judge us all together. It’s not the government that’s
damaged, it’s not the opposition that’s discredited, it’s Armenia that is
dishonored.
We must accept their criticism, listen to their disappointment, share their
frustration and try to make certain that this is not a permanent setback,
but a temporary aberration from the path to which we’re commited. I hope I’m
not wrong. We will be tested by what happens in the coming weeks and monhs.
What is very encouraging is that despite all that has happened, there’s a
lot of good will towards Armenia, a lot of hope pinned on Armenia, and a
sincere desire to see us come through this in a meaningful way, not just
superficially moving forward with business as usual.
This is also a challenge for the Diaspora. The Diaspora is obviously shocked
and disappointed by the way events have evolved. But we all are. Now it is
time for Armenia and the Diaspora together to navigate through this
polarized and paralyzing situation, find ways to build faith, to encourage
sustained, continuous engagement, to insist on and support institutional
change. In other words, to continue the difficult task of nation-building.
What the Diaspora cannot do, as some have suggested, is to boycott Armenia,
to reject Armenia-based organizations, to blame Armenia for not being the
country of their dreams. I understand the disappointment, I don’t
understand the expectations or the reaction. This is when we in Armenia
need the Diaspora, this is when the Diaspora must say what the international
community is saying – we are disappointed in what has happened and we stand
ready to work with you to bring Armenia out of this crisis. This is not the
time to disown the family. This is the time for systematic and broad
cooperation.