Author: Kanayan Tamar

EXAGGERATION A LIE OF WELL-BRED PEOPLE

Panorama.am
15:25 21/12/2007

Mrs. Yelena Tevdoradze, deputy of Georgia parliament and member
of PACE monitoring committee, made a statement at TV Company "Mze"
that the Armenian party has required reconsideration of territorial
conflicts in Georgia in the PACE winter session. She said Armenia
also demanded the presence of de-fact presidents of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia Sergei Bagamsha and Eduard Kokoiti during such discussions.

In this relation, David Harutunyan, PACE delegation head and member
of monitoring committee said: "First, the Armenian delegation did not
propose any suggestion at PACE winter session in Paris relating to
territorial conflicts in Georgia. In fact, PACE monitoring committee
held a session in Paris and one of the agenda issues was the
continuation of the committee’s activities in relation to "frozen"
conflicts, taking into consideration the positive assessment given
to the committee members in Berlin Conference in 2007. Particularly,
the issue on organization of regular hearings was discussed dedicated
to the progress in peace settlement of Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhaz and
South Ossetian conflicts.

Secondly, the draft document prepared by the secretary of the
committee, there was a point saying the committee may consider the
expediency of attracting representatives of parties interested in
peace settlement, including representatives of civil society. The
Armenian party supported that approach approving the expediency of
inviting conflicting parties to the hearings and expressed assurance
that their participation in such hearings will serve the effectiveness
of the dialogue and creation of atmosphere of trust as well as mutual
understanding.

To my regret and amazement, the approaches mentioned by me were
changed and distorted up to the level of being unrecognized by
Mrs. Tevdoradze. I believe such a distortion is out of constructive
realm and does not comply with the spirit of friendly relations
between our countries."

PARTICIPANTS OF RALLY IN DEFENCE OF SPEECH FREEDOM AND "GALA" TV COMPANY DEMAND ENDING PERSECUTIONS OF "GALA"

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Free People of Yerevan are with
You" – this and other placards were carried by participants of the
December 19 rally in Gyumri: students from Yerevan, numerous residents
of Gyumri and those from about 30 settlements of Shirak marz who came
to express their support for "Gala" TV company. Speeches were made in
particular by the chairman of the "Asparez" club Levon Barseghian,
the leader of "Aylntrank" inititaive Nikol Pashinian, member of the
"Orinats Yerkir" party, NA deputy Hovhannes Margarian and the chairman
of the "Democratic Homeland" party Petros Makeyan.

"Those who infringe on our rights will be punished under the law. They
will be punished by God and by the public’s comtemp. This day will
come," Levon Barseghian stated.

H. Margarian said that residents of Gyumri are ready to take any
step in order to protect their dignity. In his words, "Gala" is an
island in Gyumri, and everybody capable of expressing his free will
in broadcasts of "Gala" needs it as much as air and water.

Stating once again that "Gala" TV company is being subjected to
pressure after it broadcast the September 21 speech of the first
Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian, the rally participants adopted
an application, in which they demand that the respective bodies stop
persecuations of "Gala".

JINGOISTIC CLIMATE HAS TAKEN GOVERNMENT HOSTAGE
By Lale Sariibrahimoglu

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 20 2007

When we look at mainstream Turkish media reports, we get the sense
that Turkey has been waging an all-out war against another nation.

Exaggerated media coverage of Turkish raids into northern Iraq against
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists only helps further
provoke the nationalistic sentiment that has already taken the form
of dangerous nationalism. The day a Turkish air raid into northern
Iraq was reported, another priest, this time in the Aegean coastal
town of Ýzmir, was stabbed — police apprehended a 19-year-old suspect.

Media coverage of the Turkish assault has also been full of misleading
information about the correct version of the Turkish military’s
capabilities and has once again highlighted the level of intellectual
capacity of some Turkish reporters in particular when it comes to
military affairs.

Even former military officers appearing in programs on Turkish
operations, deliberately or otherwise, made assessments that fell
short of enlightening their audience about the technical aspects of
the raids, and most of them, as usual, emphasized their political
views on the attacks staged against the PKK.

Normally, one expects former military authorities to enlighten the
audience about the technical features of the event in an attempt to
give the right picture of the military’s capabilities. Unfortunately
we have once again witnessed deception of the public about the air
raids by both mainstream media and by some retired military men.

Does Turkey really need to raid PKK hideouts in northern Iraq if
Turkish decision makers have long ago addressed the problem of
terrorists and terrorism in a more thoughtful and democratic manner?

Have Turkish decision makers spent any effort preparing the public
for a comprehensive democratic solution to the Kurdish problem?

On the contrary, we face today a public that overwhelmingly believes
in a military solution alone to resolve our disputes. This has led
to the public being more jingoistic and prone to being used by some
"dark circles" in violent acts against those who think differently
or who are not Muslims.

Father Andrea Santoro in Trabzon and Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink in Ýstanbul were killed last year and this year, respectively,
while we witnessed the brutal murders of three Christians in Malatya
in the spring. These events were recently followed by the stabbing
of Adriano Francini in Ýzmir in the past week.

Then came the arrest of Nurettin Demirtaþ, the leader of the
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), upon his arrival from
abroad over charges that he had illegally avoided military service.

On the one hand stand the Turkish operations taking place inside a
neighboring country while on the other an uncontrollable growing hatred
against those who think differently, be they Muslims or Christians.

In the midst of this dangerous trend is an image that the government
has been leaving as if it has been unable to give the right direction
to the nation with regards to these extreme nationalistic tendencies.

I have doubts now that the government, which has handled the northern
Iraqi crisis in a diplomatic manner, despite calls being made for
quite some time now by Turkish hawks for a unilateral invasion of
northern Iraq, can take courageous steps to find a comprehensive
solution to the Kurdish problem.

Unfortunately the government also seems to have been hijacked now by
ultra-nationalist sentiment, risking the exacerbation of an already
fragile economic situation, vulnerable to global negative trends.

Parliamentary opposition, in the meantime, pursues policies that can
only play into the hands of those who try to maintain their selfish
interests at the expense of the country’s normalization.

I have serious doubts over whether the political leadership has been
left with any room for maneuver to introduce a functioning partial
amnesty for the PKK militants while unveiling a package of measures
to heal the wounds of Turkey’s Kurdish citizens. The government does
not seem to be taking bold political steps in addressing the Kurdish
problem and displaying a determination to discourage ultra nationalism
that has taken a violent nature.

If there are no surprises, though I wish there might be, the political
leadership seems unable to take courageous political steps — at
least not until before local elections planned for March 2009.

–Boundary_(ID_QT1jxflHh+NjJ9pLpCPjpw)–

MP SAYS TURKEY BACKS ARMENIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN NATO EVENTS

Mediamax Agency
Dec 20 2007
Armenia

Yerevan, 20 December: Turkey is closely monitoring the development of
Armenia-NATO relations, the chairman of the defence, national security
and internal affairs parliamentary commission, Artur Aghabekyan,
said today.

While speaking at the "Armenia-Turkey relations: problems and
perspectives" parliamentary session today, Aghabekyan said that Turkey
has never used its rights of veto against Armenia’s involvement in
the events held under NATO auspices, Mediamax news agency reported.

Armenia always received invitations for participation in NATO events
held in Turkey, but limited its participation in these forums,
Aghabekyan said, who before getting elected into the parliament was
the Armenian deputy defence minister. He said that the head of the
general headquarters of armed forces of Armenia attended one of these
events in Turkey several years ago.

Aghabekyan said that in the process of Armenia’s joining the process of
planning and analysis of the Partnership for Peace (PARP) programme and
approval of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), Armenia had
to edit the provisions regarding Turkey and Nagornyy Karabakh problem,
taking into consideration Turkey’s veto right.

Aghabekyan said that the Turkish colonel was co-commander of NATO
Cooperative Best Effort manoeuvres, which took place in Armenia in
summer of 2003.

BH TO SUPPORT SERGE SARGSIAN’S CANDIDATURE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous
Armenia) party will support RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian’s
candidature in the 2008 presidential elections. Gagik Tsarukian, the
Chairman of the Bargavach Hayastan party, stated at the December 20
enlarged sitting of party’s Political Board. In his words, S. Sargsian
is the candidate, who is able to solve the problems faced by Armenia,
to preserve home political stability and contribute to country’s
economic development.

The statement adopted by the BH Political Board the same day mentioned
that "only a president elected in free, independent elections meeting
international standards will be able to lead Armenia to development and
to contribute to rise of country’s international rating and authority
in the coming five years."

Expressing gratitude to the party for supporting his candidature in
the forthcoming elections, S. Sargsian said that any candidate would
consider it an honor to have support of such a political force like BH.

COURT TAKES COUNTERCLAIM OF GALA AGAINST TAX STATE SERVICE INTO EXAMINATION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2007

GYUMRI, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Economic Court of the Republic
of Armenia continued the trial of the case on the lawsuit of the Tax
Inspectorate of Gyumri under the Tax State Service of the RA Government
filed against the ChAP LLC, the owner of the GALA TV Company, in the
residence of Gyumri on December 18 under the chairmanship of judge
Eduard Nahapetian. According to the information provided to Noyan
Tapan by the Headquarters on Protection of Speech Freedom and GALA
TV Company, the court declared that it has made a decision on taking
the counterclaim of the ChAP LLC against the Tax Inspectorate of
Grumri under the Tax State Service into examination, about which the
representative of the ChAP LLC had made a petition in the December
17 court sitting. The court will hear the counterclaim together with
the preliminary lawsuit.

The court declared that the sitting is closed and the two sides will
decently be informed of the next sitting. The eight representatives of
the plaintiff Tax State Service did not come to the sitting appointed
on December 18 at 10:00. They appeared in court at 10-12 only after
a break was announced in the sitting and the Court had left.

It should be mentioned that the Tax State Service claims to exact more
than 25 million drams (82 thousand U.S. dollars) from the ChAP LLC with
its lawsuit, as well as to recover the court expenses paid beforehand,
and as a provision means of the lawsuit it claims to put seizure on the
property and financial means of the ChAP LLC. As regards the ChAP LLC,
it has claimed in its counterclaim to invalidate the above-mentioned
act of the Tax State Service.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: December 19, 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St. Flr 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918

ANCA-ER DIRECTOR TO EXPAND HAI TAHD PARTICIPATION ON UPCOMING
ARMENIAN HERITAGE CRUISE
–Attendees expected to gain further insight on Eastern, Western,
and National perspectives of the ANCA

New York, NY- In less than a month, Armenians from around the
world will board the Costa Fortuna for the 11th annual Armenian
Heritage Cruise (AHC). With close to 2000 registered guests, those
attending will have a variety of activities to choose from,
including various cultural, educational, and social events planned
throughout the week, including a presentation by the Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region Executive Director
(ANCA-ER).

The first morning at sea, ANCA ER Director Karine Birazian will be
presenting a lecture entitled A Year of Firsts: Reflecting on 2007
and Future Hai Tahd Activities, on Monday, January 14th at 10:30am.
The lecture will focus on the many successes and activities the
ANCA is actively engaged in, including the withdrawal of Ambassador
nomination Dick Hoagland, encouraging local communities No Place
for Hate Chapters to sever ties with the National Anti Defamation
League (ADL), the significant progress of genocide recognition and
H. Res 106, and much more.

"2007 has been such an exciting and overwhelming year for the ANCA.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our
accomplishments and future goals and projects for 2008," commented
Birazian. Those that attend the lecture will be entered in a
chance to win a free one-year subscription of the Armenian Weekly
or Hairenik Newspaper as well as meet and hear from ANCA
Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian, Esq. & ANC WR
Executive Director Antranig Kzirian Esq.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
####
Photo Caption:
Photo 1: ANCA ER director Karine Birazian presenting on the Armenian
Heritage Cruise in 2007

Photo 2: Lecture attendees engaging in conversation during the question &
answer

PanARMENIAN.Net

Washington to contribute to Karabakh settlement
15.12.2007 15:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan met
with U.S. Charge d’Affairs in Armenia, Amb. Joseph Pennington.

Defense Minister’s Spokesman, col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
PanARMENIAN.Net that the U.S. diplomat said the U.S. is determined to
keep on contributing to processes within the Armenia-NATO IPAP.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
Amb. Pennington said that Washington as represented by OSCE MG
Co-chair Matthew Bryza will further contribute to the conflict
resolution. Military solution to the problem is ruled out, he said.

The parties also referred to the Armenia-U.S. relations and their
development.

TIES WITH ADL PROGRAM SUSPENDED

Boston Globe, MA
Dec 13 2007

The Board of Selectmen has voted to suspend ties with the
Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program. The town’s
Human Rights Committee recommended the move because the ADL has not
satisfactorily recognized as genocide the killing of 1.5 million
Armenians by the Ottoman Turks during and just after World War I.

Four selectmen voted to suspend the link to the ADL program, which
backs local efforts to fight racism and encourage diversity, while
Selectman James Healy, abstained, saying he did not feel the board
should take up the issue. – Laura M. Colarusso more stories like this

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN HAD A FAREWELL MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA

armradio.am
11.12.2007 13:12

Today President Robert Kocharyan had a farewell meeting with the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Bulgaria to Armenia Stefan Dimitroff, President’s Press Office reports.

Robert Kocharyan said the Ambassador’s tenure in office was very
effective for the development of Armenian-Bulgarian relations; the
economic and cultural ties have considerably expanded.

The Ambassador noted that without the willingness of the Armenian
side and support, it would not be possible to reach such results.

As an evidenced of development of Armenian-Bulgarian relations, the
Ambassador pointed to the fact that the number of people studying
Bulgarian has increased in Armenia, and the Bulgarian-Armenian
dictionary has already been published.

The parties also turned to the opportunities of enlargement of
Armenian-Bulgarian relations in the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy.