Author: Kajoyan Gevork

‘GENEVA II IS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO OUST ASSAD’

Deutsche Welle World, Germany
October 30, 2013 Wednesday 3:13 PM EST

Despite the general belief that Syrian Christians are backing President
Assad’s regime, there are many who are siding with the opposition. DW
travelled to Qamishli, in northeast Syria, to speak to one of them.

Gebrail Kourie is the President of the Assyrian Democratic
Organization.

DW: Can you describe the Assyrian Democratic Organization and how
it works?

Gebrail Kourie: The Assyrian Democratic Organization is a national,
political and democratic movement which was founded in 1957 in
Qamishli (around 700 kilometers northeast of Damascus – the ed.) and
we’ve been working underground ever since. We are the first political
organization of the Assyrian people in Syria and we have branches in
the US, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. The
Assyrians are the living descendants of the people and the civilization
of Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Assyrian,
Aramean, Syriac…Our people has been known in Mesopotamia throughout
history under all these denominations.

Why were you forced to remain underground?

Syria’s ruling Baath party never had any problem whatsoever with
religious diversity but national aspirations other than the Arabs’
were systematically denied. We reject calling ourselves “Christians,”
we are Assyrians, we have a historic homeland and a distinct language
and culture, that’s why were part of Syria’s opposition long before
the revolution. In 2005 we signed the Declaration of Damascus –
a statement of unity by Syrian opposition figures which criticized
the Syrian government as “authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish”
and called for reform. The Baath party never accepted us even
if we strived for a national recognition without breaking Syria’s
boundaries. After the uprising in 2011 we joined the Syrian National
Council – the Istanbul-based coalition of Syrian opposition groups.

Kurds in power in Syria’s north have claimed that neither Assad nor
the opposition are willing to recognize Syria’s “non-Arab” peoples.

The Syrian opposition has recently moved toward the recognition of our
rights at a meeting in Cairo. However, there are several points to be
discussed, starting from what should be the official name. We want a
“Syrian Republic,” and not a “Syrian-Arab Republic.” Another pressing
issue is whether Syria should be a federal state. Nonetheless, we
agree that all these points have to be discussed by a representative
parliament after Assad is ousted. It’s too early to agree on that now.

Many Syrian Christians support Assad. How has this division affected
your community?

We have a big problem because many local Christians have not accepted
becoming an opposition party. That doesn’t mean that Christians support
the dictatorship, it’s just that they prefer stability rather than
risk their life fighting for their legitimate rights. We’re working to
establish bridges between our community through civil commissions but
the regime is chasing us. The crux of the matter is that Christians
are too afraid as the on-going crisis brings back memories of 1915
genocide, where hundreds of thousands of our people were killed by
the Turks alongside the Armenians. The same happened in Iraq after
2003. Churches have been attacked and a lot of people have left. Since
1970, 200,000 Christians have left Syria, 30 percent of the community
in this northeast region. Today there are more of us in Sweden than
here in Syria, that’s why we need to stick to our land and fight for
our rights alongside Arabs and Kurds.

You mention federalism: would you accept being part of the Kurdish
Autonomous Region within Syria that many Kurdish parties are claiming?

We have no problem whatsoever as long as everybody’s rights are
recognized and mutual respect prevails over ethnic divisions.

Kurdish opposition parties have accused the PYD – the dominant party
among Syria’s Kurds – of ruling in an authoritarian way. What is your
assessment at this point?

That’s not true as there are other parties within the Kurdish Supreme
Committee, the governing body in Syrian Kurdistan. Besides, the PYD
has proved to be a strong party and the YPG, the Popular Protection
Units – is keeping Islamists at an arm’s length.

Rumors have it that Turkey is funnelling them across its border to
quell the Syrian Kurds’ aspirations. Is there any truth to that?

It’s very likely as everybody in the Middle East has used Islamists
for their own interest, even Iran and Syria. Before they would be
launched from here to Iraq, and now they are fighting against the
legitimate Syrian opposition. There are communication channels between
Assad and the Jihadists. Assad freed hundreds of them from prison in
order to demonize the Syrian opposition. They’ve done the job but I
want to underline that by no means does Islamic extremism represent
the ideals of Syria’s opposition groups.

Would a foreign intervention bring a solution to a war about to enter
it’s third year?

We always fought for a political solution in Syria but Damascus
never moved forward. Assad’s only reaction has been a brutal military
response with the help of his allies, Iran, Hezbollah and Russia among
them. Hence, Syria has turned into an open battlefield for foreign
powers. If there’s no political transition, Assad’s dynasty will be
perpetuated in Syria and the whole country will turn into a stronghold
for Islamists. Geneva II (peace conference on Syria planned for Nov.

23 – the ed) can be our last opportunity to oust Assad and to bring
back all those who left Syria. Nobody wants to see their country
attacked but if the political way doesn’t lead to the fall of Assad,
then I’m afraid there’ll be no other way.

OPPOSITION MP: ‘POINTLESS FUNDS’ BEING USED TO OPEN ARMENIAN EMBASSIES ABROAD

31.10 22:23 epress.am

During the discussion in parliament today on the amount from the 2014
state budget to be allocated to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Armenian National Congress (HAK) MP Levon Zurabyan raised a question on
the inefficiency of Armenia’s foreign policies. In particular, he said,
“pointless funds” are being used to open Armenian embassies abroad.

Among these “pointless” expenses, he named the appointment of an
ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Vatican City, who happens
to be Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s son-in-law, Mikael Minasyan
[pictured, far left].

Among other failures, the opposition MP highlighted the failed
Armenia-Turkey Protocols and preparations related to signing the
Association Agreement with the European Union.

RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan didn’t agree
with Zurabyan, insisting that that is the MP’s personal point of view.

Republican Party of Armenia MP Artashes Geghamyan then asked for the
floor and said that Zurabyan is forgetting that there are 1 billion
Christians in the world and that “behind the wheel” in Germany
(“considered the EU’s engine”) are the Christian Democrats, on whom
the Vatican has great influence.

ANCA-SGV ENDORSES ROMERO AND BARAJAS FOR MONTEBELLO CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Thursday, October 31st, 2013

Candidates address the community during an ANCA SGV forum

MONTEBELLO-The Armenian National Committee of America- San Gabriel
Valley chapter announced its endorsement of Art Barajas and Vivian
Romero for the Montebello City Council elections on November 5
Councilmember Barajas is an incumbent and Romero is running for a
first term.

ANCA-SGV Chairman Viken Pakradouni stated that “the ANCA-SGV is
convinced that the election of Ms. Romero and the re-election of Mr.

Barajas is in the best interest of the Armenian-American community in
Montebello. As experienced public servants, these two candidates will
surely represent our community values to the best of their abilities.”

Art Barajas

Councilmember Art Barajas is an incumbent running for re-election.

Born and raised in the Montebello community, Barajas is currently
a business owner in the community. Throughout his years of service,
he has demonstrated a strong track record in recognizing issues of
importance to the Armenian-American community of Montebello.

Pakradouni stated: “Councilmember Barajas was instrumental in securing
Montebello’s donation of a fire truck to Artsakh and we anticipate
his future cooperation in similar initiatives that will be presented
to the Council during the coming term.”

Vivian Romero

Vivian Romero is a musician and community activist who is running for
her first term in office. Also a Montebello native, Ms. Romero brings
forth innovative and creative approaches to solving the community’s
issues. Recently, she initiated the renovation of a local park and
the creation of a veteran’s memorial in the park.

Romero has served as a commissioner on the City of Montebello Parks
and Recreation Commission. She was also the campaign manager for
Montebello Councilmember Jack Hadjinian during his successful run
for a council seat in 2011.

On September 26, the ANCA-SGV hosted a candidates’ forum at the
Montebello Armenian Center. Over 100 members of the local community
attended.

“Art Barajas and Vivian Romero distinguished themselves during the
forum by expressing their plans for how the City of Montebello should
address the issues facing the City” stated Ara Malazian who moderated
the forum for the ANCA-SGV.

Members of the ANCA-SGV, Armenian Relief Society Nayiri Chapters and
students from the Armenian Mesrobian School have already volunteered
for phone-banking and walked precincts for both of the candidates.

The ANCA-SGV will also be participating in election-day activities
aimed at getting out the Armenian-American vote for both candidates.

There are currently seven candidates running for the three open
seats on the Montebello City Council. Elections are on November 5,
2013. The ANCA-SGV encourages all Montebello residents to cast their
ballots during this important election.

ARMENIAN ACTIVIST SAYS REVOLUTION ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE REFORMS – VIDEO

Armenian News – Tert.am
21:47 ~U 31.10.13

The leader of the Armenia-based Tsegharkon party stresses the need
of staging a revolution in Armenia, considering it the only way of
changing the country for the better.

In an interview with Tert.am, the politician explained the motives
behind his decision and the possible timeframes of realizing his plan.

Mr Harutyunyan, why did you decide one day to stage a revolution?

I haven’t made a call for a revolution; I have declared that I am on
the revolution front. I never address a call to anyone; I just think
that a revolution is the only way to normalize the country. So anyone
who thinks that way, can go to a revolution.

Why did you make the decision now?

It isn’t now that I have decided that. I made the decision two years
ago, in 2011. I said on the Yerkir Media [TV channel] that we will
stage a revolution in Armenia. So I am realizing my decision.

Mr Harutyunyan, what guarantees do you have that you will succeed in
doing what your predecessors, [opposition leaders] Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and Raffi Hovhannisian, failed to achieve?

What I rely on is not whether or not it will be a success, but the
fact that this is the only way out. So, if I want to be at ease with
my conscience and treat my country the right way, I am ready for that
revolution; for my country’s dignity at least.

An ordinary revolution is not an individual manifestation; a revolution
itself is a public manifestation. If there are enough people in the
society, who find that a revolution is the only way and that they are
ready to take to the street and even to die, time will show everything
else. December 2 is my deadline.

There are now campaign groups; so if they offer you to join them,
what will be your decision?

To join what? Those demanding snap elections? Were there anyone wishing
a revolution, I would; I have waited for so long for the initiator
groups … I am against elections in Armenia because I don’t want to
fool myself. I don’t want to call for snap elections.

Have politicians visited you in this period?

Nobody has, and I do not expect any visit.

$10,000,000 RECORD VERDICT FOR WOMAN KILLED IN A RUNAWAY TOYOTA

BY STAFF
– POSTED ON OCTOBER 30, 2013POSTED IN: ARMENIA, NEWS

Los Angeles – On October 10, 2013, after a hard fought nine week long
trial, a Los Angeles jury returned its verdict awarding $10,000,000 to
the husband and son of Noriko Uno, a 66 year old woman who was killed
on August 28, 2009, when her 2006 Toyota Camry took off at speeds up
to 100 miles per hour for over half a mile after being struck by a
Lexus driven by Olga Bello.

Garo Mardirossian and Armen Akaragian represent Mrs. Uno’s husband
Peter(71), and her son Jeffrey(37), sued Toyota Motor Corporation
and Olga Bello claiming that Olga Bello caused the initial accident,
and that Toyota should have installed a brake override safety feature
in the 2006 Camry that could have saved Mrs. Uno’s life.

Garo Mardirossian has won several multimillion dollar and eight
figure jury trial verdicts in product liability, civil rights and
general negligence cases. In 2000 Garo was chosen as Trial Lawyer of
the Year by CAALA, the largest local bar organization in America. In
2010 he served as president of CAALA. In 2013 he was named as Top 100
lawyers in the state of California by the Daily Journal the largest
legal publication in the state. Garo along with Armen Akaragian are
graduates of Holy Martyrs Ferrahian high school.

The incident occurred at 4:00 p.m. on August 28, 2009. Noriko Uno was
driving her 2006 Toyota Camry southbound on Euclid Avenue, in Upland,
California, when the driver side of her car was struck by a Lexus
driven by Olga Bello. Olga Bello failed to stop at a posted Stop sign
on westbound 23rd Street. As a result of this impact, Mrs. Uno’s
Camry spun 170 degrees and immediately sped away from the scene,
travelling at a high rate of speed for over a half mile southbound in
the northbound lanes of Euclid Avenue. Finally, to avoid a head-on
collision with oncoming northbound vehicles, Mrs. Uno turned right
into the center median where her Toyota Camry struck a large tree
resulting in her death.

The brake override safety feature when activated will close the
acceleration throttle and bring the car to a stop. It is activated
whenever both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are pressed
at the same time. As Mr. Mardirossian told the jury in his opening
statement, “With the brake override safety feature, whenever the
accelerator and brake pedal are pressed at the same time, the brake
immediately becomes the “BOSS” and stops the car to avoid serious
injuries or death.”

Garo Mardirossian called over 2 dozen witnesses to the stand, most
notably, Mr. James Lentz, the Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor
Corporation North America. Mr. Lentz admitted to the jury that brake
override technology was installed on Toyota models sold overseas as
early as 2001, and became standard equipment on all new models by
the end of 2010. Toyota’s CEO, Mr. Lentz, did not know why the brake
override safety feature had not been included in 2006 Camry’s sold
in the United States.

The Uno family expert witnesses testified that, at the time of the
driver side impact from the Bello vehicle, the top of Uno’s right foot
slipped sideways and became stuck behind the brake pedal with her heel
pressing the gas pedal. With her right foot stuck in this manner, Mrs.

Uno had no acceleration control over the Camry and was unable to
remove her foot or slow the vehicle. As a result, after impact from
the Bello car, Mrs. Uno’s Camry was propelled on a half-minute journey
the wrong way on Euclid Avenue at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

Mrs. Uno must have attempted to apply the brake pedal with her left
foot, which would have activated the brake override and automatically
slowed the vehicle. However, unfortunately Toyota had not equipped
Mrs. Uno’s 2006 Toyota Camry with the brake override safety feature.

Plaintiff expert automotive engineer and race car driver Neil Hannemann
testified that Toyota’s brake override technology, which was available
on some of Toyota’s models sold overseas since 2001, begins to stop
the car half-a-second after the brake is depressed with 20 pounds of
force at the same time as the gas pedal.

Another plaintiff’s expert, accident reconstructionist Richard Hille,
said tire marks along Euclid Avenue prove that Mrs. Uno attempted to
stop the Camry and also pulled the emergency brake in an effort to
slow the speeding Camry.

Witnesses traveling northbound on Euclid Avenue, near 21st Street,
testified that Mrs. Uno made a sudden right turn into the center
median to avoid a head-on collision with them. In the center median
Mrs. Uno’s Camry struck a larger pepper tree resulting in her death.

At the scene, police photographed the emergency brake of Mrs. Uno’s car
in an up position, indicating that Mrs. Uno had pulled the emergency
brake in an effort to slow the speed of the Camry.

Bello and Toyota contended that Mrs. Uno was confused and pressed the
wrong pedal after the Bello impact because she was taking insulin for
Type 2 diabetes causing hypoglycemia or was confused due to a liver
condition. The defense also contended that Mrs. Uno never used the
service brake or the emergency brake after the Bello impact, and that
the brake override safety feature would not have made a difference
during the incident even if Toyota had provided brake override in Mrs.

Uno’s Camry.

Olga Bello contended that Mrs. Bello’s impact with the Camry was very
insignificant, likening it to a amusement park bumper car contact and
could not have caused any injury beyond temporary soft tissue aches.

The jury deliberated for four and a half days on the question
of whether Toyota Motor Corporation should be found liable for
the death of Mrs. Uno, and was deadlocked on that issue. Finally,
the jury found by a vote of 9 to 3 that Toyota should not be found
liable. Unlike a criminal proceeding, in which a unanimous vote of 12
jurors is required, in a civil case such as this a vote of 9 jurors
is sufficient to resolve any question put to the jury for decision.

Ninety minutes later the jury found that Olga Bello is liable for
the death of Mrs. Uno and awarded $6,000,000 in favor of Mrs. Uno’s
husband Peter, for his past and future loss of Mrs. Uno’s love,
society and companionship, and the jury awarded $4,000,000 in favor
of Mrs. Uno’s son, Jeffrey.

The Uno family was vindicated by the jury’s finding that Mrs. Uno was
not negligent in any manner concerning the cause of the accident or
cause of her death.

GARO MARDIROSSIAN

____________________________________________________

Mr. Mardirossian’s extensive trial experience and winning record
include numerous jury verdicts in the field of defective product
design. Among the jury verdicts obtained by Mr. Mardirossian in trials
against product manufacturers are the following:

Thienmanne v. Nissan Motor Corporation, October, 1997

On May 20, 1992, a LAPD patrol car responding to a 911 call struck the
driver side of a 1992 Nissan Stanza operated by Piraporn Thienmanee,
a 16-year old unlicensed, Thai visitor and student. The impact caused
the driver door of Ms. Thienmanee’s car to open and her car to spin
counter-clockwise. As the impact forces moved Ms. Thienmanee’s body
leftward toward the open door of her vehicle, her shoulder belt
engaged Ms. Thienmanee’s neck and head causing her to expire from
strangulation. In this action for wrongful death, Garo Mardirossian
established for the first time ever that the occupant restraint
system of the Nissan Stanza, which consisted of a motorized shoulder
harness and manual lap belt, was defectively designed in a manner
which contributed to the death of Ms. Thienmanee. At trial, the jury
awarded total damages in the amount of $3,150,000.

Gozukara v. Ford Motor Company, February, 2002:

On May 24, 1997, the Gozukara family was driving in their 1994 Ford
Explorer on the I-15 freeway to Las Vegas. When Mr. Gozukara braked and
swerved to avoid an encroaching vehicle, the Ford Explorer vibrated
violently causing loss of control before the Explorer rolled over
multiple times. Mrs. Gozukara was paralyzed from the chest down
and other members of the family suffered severe injuries. Garo
Mardirossian, as lead trial attorney for plaintiffs, established
that the Ford Explorer was defectively designed. The jury found the
1994 Ford Explorer to be defective in its propensity to roll over and
returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs on liability, and the case
settled for $14,900,000.

Duan v. General Motors, (Month of Trial/Settlement), 2004

On August 15, 1999, the Duan family was traveling in a rented 1999
Chevrolet Astro van in Northern California when the van rolled over
three times, paralyzing Mr. Duan and causing moderate injuries to the
other occupants of the van. In this lawsuit plaintiffs’ chief trial
attorney, Garo Mardirossian, obtained a court order requiring that
General Motors release to the public, for the first time, thousands
of GM documents concerning roof-crush in rollovers of vehicles.

Specifically, the much utilized but sealed Malibu I and Malibu II
test became public. After release of these previously undisclosed
documents by GM, this case resulted in a confidential settlement
reached after eight days of jury deliberations.

Pannu v. Land Rover North America, March 2009

On December 14, 2003, Sukh Pannu was driving his 1998 Land Rover
Discovery I on the westbound 118 freeway when a westbound car
encroached into his lane and made a minor impact with the passenger
side of his vehicle. As Mr. Pannu made an evasive maneuver the Land
Rover went out of control and rolled 2 ½ times on the freeway, causing
spinal injuries that rendered Mr. Pannu quadriplegic. At trial, as Mr.

Pannu’s chief trial attorney, Garo Mardirossian proved that the
Land Rover Discovery I was defective in both its stability and roof
design, resulting in a judgment in favor of Sukh Pannu in the amount
of $21,654,000.

During his legal career, Garo Mardirossian has obtained many landmark
jury verdicts in a variety of legal disciplines on behalf of his
injured clients.

In Dole v. County of Los Angeles, a police brutality case, Mr.

Mardirossian obtained for his clients a jury verdict in the amount of
$24,850,000 – the largest judgment in history against the Los Angeles
County Sherriff’s Department.

In the currently pending case of Frederick Ronald Thomas, Jr. v. City
of Fullerton, et. al., Mr. Mardirossian represents the father of
decedent Kelly Thomas, a mentally challenged young man who was beaten
to death by six officers of the Fullerton Police Department on July
5, 2011. Three of the officers will be criminally tried in November
of 2013.

In September, 2012, Mr. Mardirossian was recognized by the Daily
Journal as one of the top trial lawyers in the State of California. In
January, 2010, Garo Mardirossian served as President of the Consumer
Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), which has nearly 3,000
members and is the largest local bar association in the United States.

Mr. Mardirossian has served on CAALA’s Board of Directors for more
than 20 years. In 2000, Mr. Mardirossian received the honor of being
named CAALA’s Trial Lawyer of the Year.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY MINISTER PRESENTS CHANGES TO HOTEL REQUIREMENTS

October 31, 2013 | 19:14

YEREVAN. – Armenian Economy Minister named the demands for 5 star
deluxe hotels in Armenia.

On Thursday Vahram Avanesyan presented the government regulations in
relation to changes to hotel requirements.

Requirements of a five-star hotel do not differ much from the usual
five-star hotel. The deluxe hotel must have extra services: a treat in
the room, fruits from June to November and the Armenian dried fruits
all year round as well as high quality wines.

The set of services for a deluxe hotel should also include a beauty
salon, a room for child care and sale of tickets to the theater
and opera.

Only two five-star hotels have been certified by the Ministry of
Economy so far.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

LEVON ZURABYAN: ARMENIA’S EMBASSY IN VATICAN WAS OPENED TO PLACE SERZH SARGSYAN’S SON-IN-LAW IN A JOB

by Ashot Safaryan

Thursday, October 31, 17:29

There was no real need to open the Armenian Embassy in Vatican. Amid
the economic crisis and shortage of budget funds, one could have
combined the activities of several diplomatic missions in one embassy,
for instance, in Vienna, Levon Zurabyan, Head of the opposition
Armenian National Congress Faction, said during today’s parliamentary
hearings on the draft state budget 2014.

The oppositionist said that Armenia is not a great power to afford
to open embassies throughout the world.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan
said that concentration of several diplomatic missions in one embassy
considerably reduces the efficiency of the embassy. In response,
Zurabyan pointed out that Shavarsh Kocharyan apparently did not know
the real background of opening of Armenia’s Embassy in Vatican. “The
opening of the Embassy had only one goal – to provide Serzh Sargsyan’s
son-in-law Mikayel Minasyan with a good job, i.e. to appoint him
ambassador”, said Zurabyan.

ARMENIA-GEORGIA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AGAIN COMES UNDER AZERI FIRE

NEWS | 31.10.13 | 10:08

Photolure

Azerbaijan’s armed forces again violated the ceasefire on Wednesday,
shooting in the direction of the Voskepar-Baghanis section of the
interstate highway connecting Armenia and Georgia.

A spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry told local media that
there were no causalities as a result of the shooting that happened
at around 3 pm.

Artsrun Hovhannisyan added that the Armenian forces retaliated, after
which the enemy shooting stopped. The highway section near Baghanis
had to be closed for security reasons.

This is not the first time Azerbaijan violates truce by firing in
the direction of the highway passing along the northeastern border
of Armenia. Last week one Armenian serviceman was killed and three
others were wounded as Azeri troops opened fire at a military convoy
on the Paravakar section of the Berd-Ijevan highway.

The Armenian Defense Ministry then described it as “another act of
aggression by the Azeri side” and vowed to retaliate fiercely from
now onward to avert such attacks in the future.

WASHINGTON HOSTS CONFERENCE ON “KURDISH ROLE IN NEW MIDDLE EAST”

October 31, 2013 – 11:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Kurdish political leaders from Turkey, Syria,
Iran and Iraq were joined on Oct 28 by a broad cross-section of the
Washington foreign policy community at an all-day conference on the
“The Kurdish Role in the New Middle East.”

The conference, the first ever organized in Washington by the U.S.

office of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the leading pro-Kurdish
political party in Turkey, was held before a capacity crowd in the
National Press Club, Asbarez reports.

An Armenian delegation headed by Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian attended the conference and
also held consultations regarding prospects for increased cooperation
with several political leaders and other key Kurdish stakeholders.

“We welcome this inaugural BDP conference in Washington, DC and
the opportunity it afforded for meaningful dialogue about Armenian
Kurdish cooperation, Western Armenia and Kurdistan, and, more broadly,
the realization of the national and democratic aspirations of the
Armenian and Kurdish nations,” said Der Khatchadourian.

The program covered four panels, and featured a robust exchange of
views from a broad array of Kurdish viewpoints. The topics covered were
“The Kurds in a Changing Middle East,” “The Kurds of Syria and their
Vision for the Future,” “The Imrali Peace Process: Can Turkish-Kurdish
Relations be Re-Made?” and “The U.S., Turkey, and the Kurds: Towards
a New Vision.” Among those participating were the Co-Chairman of the
BDP, Selahattin Demirtas; Nazmi Gur, a prominent BDP Parliamentarian;
Karwan Zebari, representing the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq
office in Washington, DC, former U.S.

Ambassador to Turkey, James Jeffrey; and prominent journalists Cengiz
Candar and Amberin Zaman from Turkey.

TURKISH MP DISLIKES ‘VAN,’ SUGGESTS RENAMING IT INTO ‘WAN’

October 31, 2013 – 17:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – President Ilham Aliyev’s “astounding” statement on
the 2800th anniversary of the Azeri people was followed by a similarly
inconceivable one: Turkish parliamentarian Aysel Tugluk offered to
rename the city of Van into Wan. As the MP noted, for thousands of
years, the city carried the name of Wan, which has to be brought back.

The MP is confident that current name of the city “is incurrent from
the viewpoints of democracy and pronunciation.” One might wonder
what a city name has to do with the democracy. But the pronunciation
point is clear enough: everything in Turkey that used to belong to
Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians was declared wrong and was demanded to
be corrected. Same is the case here: Van sounds too “Armenian” to
the Turkish MP, so it has to be renamed. Seems like this is the way
Ms Tugluk interpreted Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement suggesting
that historic sites will recover their old names. Strangely enough,
the PM’s remark did not affect the cities listed in the catalogues
and historical works. Also, by that logic, the village of Hissarlik
should be re-given its ancient name, Troy.

As for Van and the Kingdom of Van, which was one of the most powerful
ones back when the ancestors of the Turkish MP never even existed, our
advice is a simple one – learn history. And not by Turkish textbooks,
but serious world-acknowledged works.

And if renamed, the city should be called Tushpa, rather than Wan.

Turks already renamed Ararat into Agrı Dagı, Akhtamar into Akdamar,
Smyrna into Izmir – the list is endless. Is Van the next?