Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 23 2006

BOOK ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PREPARED IN VATICAN

VATICAN, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Clergyman,
historian from Vatican, Giovanni Sale has prepared a book about the
Armenian Genocide based on Vatican’s documents. According to
Marmara’s report, the work must be already published.

Different circles consider it interesting that on the eve of his
visit to Turkey the Pope permitted to publish such a book in Vatican.
The book’s publication is explained in the following way: in spite of
visiting Turkey Vatican is not indifferent to the Armenian Cause.

FIRST KHACHKAR IN CZECH JIHLAVA
By Hakob Asatrian in Jihlava

AZG Armenian Daily
23/11/2006

Komitas Chamber Quartet Enchants Spectators

On November 17, in presence of many lookers-on the monument of Harutiun
Stepanian symbolizing Armenian-Czech friendship was unveiled in town
of Jihlava in the Czech Republic.

Ashot Hovakimian, Armenian ambassador to Austria, Hungary, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia, Jaroslav Vymazal, Jihlava mayor, Alexander
Sargsian, organizer of the event and head of the Armenian-Czech
Association, senator Jaromir Stetina as well as archbishop Mesrop
Grigorian, Armenian Patriarch’s envoy in Central Europe took part
ion the unveiling ceremony and held speeches.

Mayor Vymazal pointed out that significantly the first Armenian
khachkar in the Czech Republic is being erected in their town.

Ambassador Hovakimian congratulated all Czech-Armenians on this
beautiful event and emphasized the importance of such cultural events
in forming good-neighborly tradition between the two peoples.

Alexander Sargsian stated that the monument is a unique token of
gratefulness to the Czech people for non-discriminatory attitude.

Archbishop Mesrop together with deacon Barsegh Pilavchian, carried out
the consecration ceremony of the monument, after which the girls of
"Hayuhiner" ensemble gave a performance.

The khachkar is erected in front of the Holy Spirit Church in the
central Smetanovi Sad park.

At the end of the event Jihlava mayor invited the guests to a reception
in the Municipality.

In the evening, Komitas Chamber Quartet conducted by Eduard Tadevosian
gave a performance at Horacki Theatre. The Quartet played the works of
Chaykovsky, Handel and Komitas. On November 16, the Quartet performed
at the Russian Center of Science and Culture and was warmly greeted
by the spectators.

ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF FRENCH SENATE ON VISIT TO BAKU

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006

Armenian Pierre-Henry Godshiyan participates in the 28th plenary
session of BSECO PA held in Baku, APA reports.

The representative of French Senate Foreign Relations Department
Godshiyan accompanies French Senate member Bernard Fernier who has
come to participate in the plenary session.

Godshiyan is considered one of the persons defending Armenians
interests in the French political circles. He does his best for the
adoption of the bill making the so-called Armenian genocide denial
punishable. Pierre-Henry Godshiyan got visa to Azerbaijan from
Azerbaijani Embassy in France in early November. Embassy consulate
rejected to give explanation about the fact.

JAVAKHK ARMENIANS’ RALLY PASSES IN PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES’ PROVOCATIONS, UNITED JAVAKHK REPORTS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006

NINOTSMINDA, NOVEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The rally of
Javakhk Armenians at Bavra checkpoint passed in a "civilized, peaceful
and organized" atmosphere. This was mentioned in the statement spread
by the United Javakhk Democratic Bloc. We should remind that the
rally was organized on November 20 in protection of member of Bloc
presidency, Vahagn Chakhalian and with the demand of legislative
stipulation of passport and customs simplified order of crossing RA
state frontier.

According to the A-Info agency, the same day a special armed detachment
of Georgian internal troops consisting of 150 persons was brought
into Javakhk.

"Employees of regional police and national security departments of
Akhalkalak and Bogdanovka made an attempt to hamper the action of
protest at Bavra check-point by instigating provocations towards
demonstrators. But against the pressure exerted by Georgian power
structures, the rally passed in an organized and peaceful atmosphere,"
the United Javakhk’s statement read.

ONLY 15 PERCENT TRUST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

A1+
[07:52 pm] 21 November, 2006

"Data Collecting Initiative" held polling in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia in 2006. Over 120 participants were asked the same questions.

The survey was aimed at revealing the attitude and stance of the
residents of the three countries to the current reality.

A number of serious issues were aroused by "Data collecting
Initiative". Why the number of male smokers is higher in Armenia
compared with the other countries of the region? It is noteworthy
that their number has recently lessened. Regardless of this fact,
currently it is higher than the indexes of Baku and Tbilisi.

Another important concern of the initiative was the following, "How
can you account for the people’s indifference and unawareness towards
the integration of their country into the NATO both in Armenia and
in Azerbaijan?"

Most of the participants (41 percent in Armenia and 35 percent in
Baku)couldn’t answer this question defineitly as they didn’t know
whether the membership to the NATO was necessary or not for their
country.

It was also found out that only 15 percent of Armenians trust the
National Assembly.

KOCHARIAN WANTS OPEN BORDERS WITH TURKEY YET REFUSE ANY STEP

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 21 2006

* Kocharian urges establishment of diplomatic ties with Turkey

Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated late Thursday that Turkey,
as a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, should follow a
"different approach" on the issue of establishing diplomatic relations
with neighbouring Yerevan. Turkey on the other hand argues that
Armenia should withdraw its armed forces from neigbouring Azerbaijan
and should recognise Turkey’s national borders. Armenia does not
recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders.

Stressing that diplomatic relations should be established without
preconditions and prejudices, Mr. Kocharian claimed that although
his country had suggested to Turkey the establishment of diplomatic
relations, Ankara refused. "Our suggestion is still valid," he said
in a speech at a meeting organized by the Bertelsmann Association in
Berlin. However a Turkish diplomat in Ankara does not find Kocharian’s
statement serious adding "Armenia is not in a position to offer
diplomatic relations with Turkey". Reminding that Armenian forces
have been occupying almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories,
the diplomat added Armenia first must follow a peacefull policy in
the region.

Kocharian accepted in his speech that Turkey was an important
country. Kocharian said "Turkey closed its borders with Armenia" yet
he did not give the reason behind the decision. Kocharian did also
not touch the open air borders between two countries. Many Armenians
travel every week between two countries via airplanes.

* ‘Proposal for historians’ commission is a ploy’

The Armenian president Kocharian further dismissed the Turkish Prime
Minister tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to establish a joint commission
of historians to study the Armenian historical claims as a "Turkish
ploy" by which he claimed Ankara will try to distance itself from the
core of the alleged issue. According to the Armenian side, there is
nothing to be discussed, and Turkey has to accept what the Armenian
side says. Last week Turkish Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul declared
that Turkey has been studying to go to the international court for the
Armenian claims. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from the Ankara-based USAK told the
JTW "Armenians have never gone to the courts but parliaments, because
they do want to keep the issue in the political area. They know that
they would lose any case if they go to the international or local
courts. International law says that the 1915 events is not genocide".

Kocharian made the remarks in response to former German Ambassador
Dietrich Kyaw, who asked him why he had rejected Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal of a historians’ commission to examine
the genocide allegations. Turkey has offered many alternatives to
establish dialogue between Turkey and Armenia to solve all problems,
including the genocide claims. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
even invited Mr. Kocharian to Istanbul, yet all of these offers and
invitations were strongly rejected by Armenia and its president.

Kocharian also stated that Yerevan wants the establishment of a
commission of politicians instead of a commission of historians
and said, "Politicians, not historians, have responsibility for the
‘genocide’." However Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner, Turkish expert on
Armenian studies, asked "why politicians?". Laciner further continued:

"Which politicians are responsible for the so-called genocide? The
exisiting politicians in Turkey? It is really difficult to understand
Mr. Kocharian. According to the International Law, individuals are
responsible for genocide crime. It means that even if we consider
the 1915 events as Genocide, today’s Turkey or its politicians canno
be responsible for the events happened almost a century ago. 1915 is
past, Mr. President has to realise that we live in 2006, not in 1915.

Historians, political scientists or lawyers should discuss the claims,
not the politicians."

Kocharian: ‘Nagorno-Karabakh is independent’

Armenian President Robert Kocharian also claimed that the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence following the
collapse of the Soviet Union and the enclave has never been a part of
Azerbaijan, though the region was one of the provinces of Azerbaijan
during the Soviet Union. The European Union and the OSCE officialy
condemned Armenia as occupier in Karabakh. No state in the world,
including Armenia officially recognises Nagorno-Karabakh. Apart from
Karabakh, some other towns of Azerbaijan have also been under the
Armenian occupation.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN BSEC PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY IN BAKU ON NOVEMBER 22-23

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian delegation will not
participate in the 28th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) in Baku on November
22-23. The reason is that no guarantees of the delegation members’
security have been provided.

According to Gagik Minasian, the head of the Armenian delegation, the
Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee of Financial,
Credit, Budgetary and Economic Isuues, he applied officially to the
Azerbaijani side in anticipation of guarantees but his application
remained unanswered. G. Minasian had to apply to the International
Secretariate of the PA BSEC, whose headquarters are in Istanbul. He
received official informatiom from the Secretary General Alexey
Kudryavtsev that the Azerbaijani authotities have not responded to
his verbal and written applications.

MANOYAN SAID KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI RAILWAY IS POLITICAL

Panorama.am
17:02 16/11/06

Kiro Manoyan, responsible of Armenian Cause Office of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun), thinks there are two option
for Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisy railway: first, to go for preconditions
of Turkey and operate Kars-Gyumri railway and second, to do the same
without preconditions.

The first option is not acceptable for any political force in
Armenia. Armenia has taken steps towards the second option, saying
the railway may be used one-sided, i.e., Armenia will not use it and
others can. Turkey has not agreed to the proposal which shows that
their disposition is not economic but political.

AZERI FM SIGNALS ‘BETTER UNDERSTANDING’ AFTER BRUSSELS TALKS

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 17 2006

Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, who met his Armenian counterpart this
week, announced that the Brussels meeting had helped the Armenian and
Azeri sides ‘to start to understand more clearly’ the principles on
which they didn’t reach agreement.

"The meeting was pretty constructive, because we started to understand
more clearly the basic elements on which we cannot find the common
ground," Elmar Mamedyarov told the RFE/RL Azeri Service.

"It is important for to understand the vision of Armenia for the
future. I am really glad that Armenia also signed the Action Plan
of the European Neighborhood Policy. This means they [Armenians]
share the same European values, which definitely brings forward the
idea that if you want to be a member of the European community, you
cannot occupy the territory of another state, cannot conduct ethnic
cleansings, because this is not the way Europe lives," the Azeri
foreign minister said.

"If we move in this direction it will become clear that there is
no chance that using the Kalashnikov machine-gun you can change the
border or it can be a means for expelling the people from the homes
of their region and deciding the future of the territory. This is not
the way the international world is living now," Mamedyarov concluded.

ARMENIAN ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM BENEFIT CONCERTS IN TEHRAN

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Nov 18 2006

TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) — Prominent Iranian musician Loris Tjeknavorian
is to conduct an Armenian orchestra in benefit concerts at the Mahak
Charity Society in Tehran from November 29 to December 5.

Austrian pianist Gudwig Walsh and violinist Tomas Theodoroff will also
accompany the orchestra in the program, which has been organized by
the Mahak Charity Society, an institute supporting Iranian children
suffering from cancer.

The orchestra is scheduled to perform several pieces by Johann
Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as well as Kurdish and
Iranian suites and pieces composed by Tjeknavorain during the program.