Author: Kanayan Tamar

NO POLITICAL PRISONERS TODAY

A1+
[05:28 pm] 25 September, 2007

"In case Levon Ter-Petrosyan runs for presidency, the fight during the
presidential elections will be ideological, it will turn to strategic
combat from tactical one", said Vahan Hovhannisyan, member of the
"Armenian Revolutionary Federation" (Dashnaktsunyun).

Mr Hovhannisyan did not like the speech of the first president, when
Ter-Petrosyan pointed out only the negative occurrences, ignoring the
positive. According to Vahan Hovhannisyan, the ARF has always talked
about shortcomings, but has always pointed out the positive things. Mr
Hovhannisyan did not understand the part of Ter-Petrosyan’s speech
where the latter presented the NKR unsettled problem as the result
of the situation.

"He said that Karabakh problem has no solution, then what new does
he have to say to the public? What will he do?"

Vahan Hovhannisyan did not agree with the allegations that today
the economic state of the country was bad coming out of subjective
reasons, while in 1998 it was connected with objective reasons – war,
blockade etc.

"The war was over in 1994 not in 1998, but our lights were not
switched on the next day of the war and energy did not penetrate into
our homes". He also reminded Khosrov Harutyunyan’s confession when
he was the prime minister that "the objective reason of crisis was
20 percent, whereas more than 70 percent was the result of inner,
ignorant and untalented policy".

Opposing Ter-Petrosyan’s assessments, Vahan Hovhannisyan noticed
that there were no political prisoners today, which means, when he
was accused of appeals for overthrowing the authorities by force, he
was a political prisoner, but when someone else did it, he was not
a political prisoner. To this question Vahan Hovhannisyan noticed,
that as regard to the appeals, he never considered himself a political
prisoner.

He added that during this period no representatives of political
parties or mass media were kept imprisoned and people did not die in
prisons, no editorial offices or offices of parties were smashed to
smithereens and no party members were kept isolated.

When the journalists reminded 12 April cases, Vahan Honhannisyan said:
"We did not allow any detainees after 12 April". It is worthwhile
to remind that hundreds of people appeared in isolation sells on 12
April night, while 4 members of "Republican" party were kept detained
for two months.

Mr Hovhannisyan talked about the freedom of speech partially: "The
situation is not that ugly, but it is not good either". In Vahan
Hovhannisyan’s opinion "situation in Armenia is not very bad".

Vahan Hovhannisyan also noticed that he did not admit the policy of
the opposition which adopted the authorities into its agenda, and
the restricting policy of authorities which prompted the opposition
to it and isolated it.

AGAINST PREDETERMINED EXIT

Vahan Hovhannisyan announced that the ARF was against predetermined
exit of elections, since the nation was against such elections and
the passive attitude of the nation he motivated by the approach that
was tried to be implanted in the society: "We do not admit the path
of predetermined outcomes, only the nation has the right to decide
the political path".

Answering to the question of "A1+" whether the ARF considered the
same way when the outcome of the constitutional referendum was already
predetermined, Mr Hovhannisyan noted that the result of the referendum
had never been predetermined and they even feared that it might fail.

ONLY VAZGEN MANUKIAN IS PREPARED TO RUN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, NDA LEADER SAYS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "It would be natural and correct
if the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian would have stated
in his September 21 speech that he would support the candidacy of the
chairman of the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukian as the key
candidate." The chairman of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
Arshak Sadoyan expressed this opinion after the September 25 meeting
with reporters.

He said that he is not against the opposition’s nominating its single
candidate at the 2008 presidential elections but he believes that
it should not be the first Armenian president as it takes at least
18 months to get prepared to stand for Presidency. According to
A. Sadoyan, only V. Manukian is ready to participate in the elections.

In the words of A. Sadoyan, L. Ter-Petrosian’s vague answer concerning
his running in the upcoming presidential elections shows that he
"avoids responsibility".

TRICKY TRANSITION IN KURDISH TURKEY
By Dorian Jones in Diyarbakir, Turkey for ISN Security Watch

ISN, Switzerland
57
Sept 24 2007

Image: Charles Roffey, Flickr

The predominantly Kurdish southeast is going through a crucial
transition. Kurdish secular nationalism, while remaining a powerful
force, is now being challenged by a resurgence in Islam.

In an unprecedented move, newly elected Turkish President Abdullah
Gul made his first trip as head of state to the predominantly Kurdish
southeast section of the country. The reaction of the people was
equally unprecedented, with thousands cheering and throwing roses –
Gul means "rose" in Turkish – wherever he went.

The visit came only weeks after Gul’s Islamic-rooted Justice and
Development Party (AKP) secured a surprise election victory in the
region, winning 53 percent of the vote in the July general election.

The Kurdish nationalist Democratic Society Party (DTP) was pushed
into second place.

For more than two decades, southeast Turkey has been devastated by a
vicious and bloody war between the separatist Kurdistan Worker’s Party
(PKK) and the Turkish government. The conflict has claimed over 30,000
lives and displaced over a million people. Until now, the region was
widely considered a bastion of secular Kurdish nationalism.

The pro-Marxist PKK and the DTP – both of which have dominated the
region’s politics – are overtly secular. But the capture of PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan in 1999, along with the withdrawal of most
of its forces to neighboring Iraq, have weakened the party. Now,
a resurgence in Islam is filling the gap.

Rising anger brings more adherents Last year, around 100,000
demonstrators protested in the regional capital Diyarbakir against the
cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad published in the Danish
daily Jllyands-Posten in September 2005. While there were similar
protests across Turkey, they were dwarfed by those in Diyarbakir. Even
the organizers of the demonstrations seemed taken aback by the level
of anger among the protesters.

"During the cartoon crisis, we wanted to show our anger so we organized
a meeting. We thought only a few people would turn up. But to our
shock thousands came, so we decided to organize a protest and over
100,000 people attended," Serdar Bulent Yilmaz, one of the organizers,
told ISN Security Watch.

Yilmaz, who also heads the Islamic human rights group Ozgur Der,
said the protest was part of a wider trend in the region influenced
by national and international factors.

"There is a growing anger towards the West, especially with Israel
[and] the US and what’s happening in the Middle East. It’s fueling
the rise in religion, which is becoming stronger in response to a
societal need to fill a gap here.

"This gap has been created by the backwardness of our society, the mass
migration into the cities caused by the fighting between the state
and Kurdish separatists that has resulted in a moral degeneration,"
Yilmaz said. "People are looking for answers which religion can only
give. […]"

Islamic sects re-establishing influence among Kurds While DTP
candidates were pro-secular during last July’s general election as in
previous polls, they courted the religious vote during the campaign. In
a traditional meeting with Diyarbakir’s religious leaders, it was
expected to be a forgone conclusion that they would offer their support
to the DTP. Traditionally, Kurdish nationalism trumps religion. But
to the party’s surprise, for the first time in recent elections,
the religious leaders said they would not support any party.

That decision was seen by DTP officials as a sign that the leaders were
switching allegiance to the Islamic-rooted AKP. Many of Diyarbakir’s
religious leaders, as in the rest of the region, belong to ancient
Islamic sects or tariqats.

A centuries-old and intrinsic part of Kurdish cultural life, tariqats
have re-asserted their influence over the region by offering free
education and housing to the poor – moves that are welcomed in a
highly underdeveloped region.

The groups have been banned in Turkey since the 1920s, and their
members do not admit to their involvement in the sects. Mohammed Akar,
who says he is closely linked with the sects, tells ISN Security
Watch that the tariqats are seeking to build bridges.

"The main religious sects have entered a positive phase. They have
learned more about democracy and how to voice their concerns using
democratic tools," Akar said.

"Especially with the democratic reforms introduced under pressure
from the European Union [they have] created a space of freedom. […]
[T]hese religious societies are reaching an understanding of living
together with the West and in particular being very supportive of
the EU membership process."

Radical Islam also taking root But while these moderate Islamic
groups may well be seeking dialogue with the West, the region is also
witnessing a resurgence of radical Islamic groups.

On the main street of the Ofis district of Diyarbakir, Islamic music
blasts from a former clothing shop. On the windows are pictures of
dead Palestinian children. Now the venue, run by a radical Islamic
association, offers cheap food and anti-Western religious propaganda
to the city’s poor.

In the last few years, numerous such organizations have sprung up,
running publishing houses, charities and foundations. Many are
suspected to be linked to the illegal Hizbollah group.

This Hizbollah is not believed to be connected with the similarly
named group in Lebanon, but according to the Turkish police, it does
have ties with Iran.

In the 1990s, the group was responsible for hundreds of deaths in the
region. Most victims are believed to have ties with the PKK, referred
to by Hizbollah as the "party of the infidel." Liberal intellectuals
and moderate Islamists were also targeted. Many of the victims were
filmed and recorded being tortured before execution.

There were numerous allegations of the Turkish state’s tacit, if not
direct, support of Hizbollah because of its anti-PKK stance. But when
it spread its operations to the rest of Turkey, and was blamed for
the assassination of the head of Diyarbakir’s police Gaffar Okkan,
within in a year the Turkish state had arrested or killed most of
the group’s leadership in 2001.

But in the last few years, it is believed that Hizbollah followers
have re-invented themselves, adopting a non-violent approach. Akar,
who has closely followed their activities, says the group’s true
nature remains unclear.

"They have buried their guns, shaved off their Muslim beards and dress
in a western way. But the guns still remain, I just hope their guns
stay buried."

Even if their guns remain buried their vehement anti-Western message
remains. They are engaged in a war for the hearts and minds of the
Kurdish people.

The outcome of that battle remains undecided among local Islamic
intellectuals, who spoke to ISN Security Watch on the condition
of anonymity.

"Kurdish people are religious people, but they don’t like radical
Islam. […]Kurdish people like and respect other religions, like
Armenians, Assyrians or other Christians and Jewish cultures. That’s
because for a thousand years we have lived with them here."

But others are not so sure.

"Kurdish people are religious people. They don’t want their religion
to be alienated or destroyed by the complete secular values of the
west. If the radical movements increase, that will be because of
[the policies of the West]."

The Iraq factor The future of Iraq is widely seen as a key factor
to dictating the politics of the region. But the presence of US
forces in Iraq is still popular among many Turkish Kurds because
of the protection they offer to the neighboring Iraqi Kurdish
population. Since the end of the first Gulf War, US forces have
protected the Iraqi Kurdish enclave on the Turkish border.

At Diyarbakir’s main mosque, the Olu Cami, widespread support for
the US can still be found.

"The US is protecting the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan. They are friends
of the Kurdish people. Without the Americans and the West, Kurds can
never be free. Leave the Americans alone, they protect our rights,"
Erkan Dogan, a 45-year-old shopkeeper, told ISN Security Watch

But dissenting voices can also be heard.

"The US gives charity with one had but attacks with the other. They
are oppressing the Islamic world, the poor, women, children," Mehmet
Guney said.

"Israel and the US are faithless, and enemies of Islam. Islam will
rule the world; it is the only true faith."

Such dissent could to grow as radical Islamic groups continue to take
advantage of the on-going carnage in Iraq and the deepening conflict
in the Palestinian Territories. But Akar fears for a premature US
withdrawal from Iraq.

"If the European Union process ends, and US abandons Kurds living in
Iraq, then everything can change, there can be chaos and you could
see a radicalization of Muslims; people could even look to Iran like
Hamas in Palestine."

The predominantly Kurdish southeast is going through a crucial
transition. Kurdish secular nationalism, while remaining a powerful
force, is now being challenged by a resurgence in Islam. But what
direction that resurgence will take is a battle that is being waged
between moderates and radicals. With the region bordering Iran,
Iraq and Syria, the outcome of that struggle could be far-reaching.

Dorian L Jones is an Istanbul-based correspondent reporting for ISN
Security Watch. He has covered events in Northern Iraq, Turkey and
Cyprus. He is also a radio documentary producer.

The Armenian Weekly On-Line
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown MA 02472 USA
(617) 926-3974
[email protected]
menianweekly.com

The Armenian Weekly; Volume 73, No. 37; Sept. 15, 2007

Arts and Literature:

1. Morgenthau’s Reception for the American Colony
By Kay Mouradian

2. Two Poems by Diana Der-Hovanessian

***

1. Morgenthau’s Reception for the American Colony
Constantinople, March 1914
By Kay Mouradian

The hands on the clock hanging on the wall were nearing 4
o’clock. Glancing at the time, Henry Morgenthau quickly buttoned his
suit jacket as his wife, Josie, stood in front of the mirror and put
on another coat of lipstick. Morgenthau did not want to be late for
this reception where he was to formally introduce his wife to the
American colony. Grasping his wife’s hand, the American ambassador
rushed her down the stairs from their living quarters to the entrance
of the ballroom.

A middle-aged woman, her arms extended, a wide smile on her face,
approached and reached for both of Josie’s hands. `Welcome to
Constantinople.’

`Josie,’ Morgenthau said, `I want you to meet Dr. Mary Patrick. She is
the president of Constantinople College for Girls.’ He watched his
wife release Dr. Patrick’s strong grip and smiled as he observed the
two women. Mary Patrick, energetic, slightly plump, aggressive and
confident, reminded him of his wife.

`My husband has told me about you and his pleasant visits to your
campus, Dr. Patrick. He says you are an inspiration.’

Mary Patrick looked as if she were about to blush. `Your husband is
the one who inspires people. I haven’t had a chance to tell him,’ and
she looked directly at the ambassador, `but after his talk to my
senior class¦he was passionate about the need for trained
workers¦more than half of my seniors now say they want to devote
their lives to social service.’

`I’m touched.’ Morgenthau placed his hand on his heart.

`Mrs. Morgenthau,’ Mary Patrick said, `I look forward to visiting with
you at my college.’ She walked back into the ballroom and went
straight to the buffet table. There was a lilting bounce in her steps.

Thirty minutes later, seventy Americans were feasting and milling
around the ballroom. Muted sounds of conversation filled the
room. Educators gathered at one end and chatted, missionaries grouped
together and exchanged stories, and laughter from the smartly dressed
business men was boisterous.

Morgenthau watched his American colony welcoming his wife. His face
was radiant with pride. Josie was the center of attention. She was
conversing with Dr. Gates, president of Robert College, and he walked
over to join them. He listened as Dr. Gates, in his academic tone,
told his wife how the college had started with a small private home
fifty years ago.

`It’s not small anymore, Josie,’ Morgenthau said. `When I first
visited Dr. Gates, I was struck with the campus. The buildings are so
American I felt as if I were in New England.’

Beaming, Dr. Gates responded, `Most of the American institutions in
Turkey have that aura, but I like to think our campus is one of the
most beautiful.’

`I look forward to an invitation,’ Josie said.

`Soon,’ Dr. Gates promised. `Most of our students are from Turkey, but
some come from as far away as Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. In fact,
today, seven of the nine Bulgarian cabinet members are graduates of
our college.’

`That’s very impressive. It suggests an American influence in
Bulgaria,’ Josie responded.

`I don’t think the Turks appreciate the influence,’ Morgenthau said
with a nervous laugh. `Remember the Balkan War?’

`We did not encourage our Bulgarian students to separate from the
empire,’ Dr. Gates protested earnestly and was obviously upset by the
inference. His round face turned red. `If the way to rule a country is
to keep the population illiterate, then I refuse to be an accomplice
to that system of government.’ He walked away in a huff.

Morgenthau was stunned. He started to follow Dr. Gates, but Josie
gently pulled on his sleeve. `Let him cool off,’ she said. They
watched him approach Dr. Peet, the president of Bible House and
treasurer of the American missions in Turkey. Within minutes,
Dr. Gates returned with the mild mannered Dr. Peet.

`Ambassador, you struck a sensitive nerve,’ Dr. Gates said. `My anger
surfaced and I should apologize.’

`That’s not necessary.’ Morgenthau reached out and put his hand on
Dr. Gates’ shoulder.

`Our friend Gates,’ Dr. Peet said and extended his palm toward his
colleague, `asked for my support.’ His soft voice carried a gentle but
firm strength behind his words. `Are you aware, Mr. Ambassador, that
the Turks never make things easy for us? They have been and are still
suspicious of our motives.’

`It is difficult for them to understand that we truly want to give
education and hope to those who otherwise would never have that
opportunity,’ Dr. Gates added.

`I have seen the good works you do here,’ Morgenthau said trying to
ease the misunderstanding, `and, yes, I am aware the Turks cannot
comprehend our approach to philanthropy. They can’t accumulate wealth,
so it is difficult for them to entertain the idea that people truly
enjoy donating large sums of money to uplift humanity.’

`I hope you did not take offense to my behavior,’ Dr. Gates said.

`I’m on your side Doctor!’ Morgenthau gave him a disarming smile and
the tension was defused.

`Ambassador Morgenthau,’ Dr. Peet said, `I have heard that you and
Mrs. Morgenthau are planning a trip to Palestine.’

`Yes. I plan to visit the entire empire, probably in three trips, and
my first is to the cities along the seacoast.’ Morgenthau’s voice took
on the tone of a businessman assessing a new venture. `I want a better
feel for the country. I need to meet the missionaries and visit their
buildings. It’s the only way I can properly represent them and their
claims.’

`We are grateful for this attention,’ Dr. Peet said. `It gives our
missionaries credibility with Turkish officials.’

`That’s part of my job.’

`My husband is a man who gets things done.’ There was no concealing
the pride in Josie’s smile.

`My relationship with Turkish leaders is quite good,’ Morgenthau
said. `In fact, Talaat has notified the governors of my trip and has
asked me to make recommendations where I see things that need
improving.’

`Ambassador,’ Dr. Peet said and nervously shuffled his feet, `if you
plan to visit Palestine, have you considered getting permission from
the Sultan to visit the Caves of Machpelah?

`The graves of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?’

`Yes. Did you know that non-Moslems are not allowed to visit the
caves?’ He hesitated, smiled and looked Morgenthau in the eye. `Except
for royalty and ambassadors and their parties.’

Morgenthau laughed and said, `Are you, a Christian, saying you would
like to accompany me, a Jew, to the site when I’m in Palestine?’

`Well, it certainly is an opportunity I’d hate to miss.’

Morgenthau smiled and said, `Let me think abut it.’

Dr. Peet opened the door and a flood of requests to visit the hallowed
site rushed through. Before Morgenthau and his wife climbed the side
of Mt. Hebron, his little party had grown to a pilgrimage of 26.
———————————————- ———————–

2. Two Poems by Diana Der-Hovanessian

No One Tattooed My Skin

or pulled off my face.
No one ripped my belly.
I was not taken to Istanbul
for either harem
or experimental hospital.
No one nailed me on
a cross saying `Now let
your Jesus save you.’
No one made me servant
or slave.

No one had me crawl
like a dog or grovel
for a piece of bread.

My soul did not wither
or fold its wings choosing
to drown in the Euphrates
rather than bear another day.

But oh, my sisters
now that ninety years
have passed and no one
has spoken for you
I spit out words you
swallowed unsaid.

***

Armenian Eyes

`An Armenian’s eyes speaks before his tongue speaks
and continue to speak even when he is silent.’

Arshile Gorky

You call Armenian eyes
Byzantine and are half right.

You think Armenian silence
is diffidence not disillusion.

You don’t imagine politics
affecting how a person stands.

You do not know how
to read half smiles.

You think the language
mysterious and remote.

You label Armenian eyes
eyes of the East

when they look at you
with surprise at betrayal.

They turn downward, tired
of waiting for light to
reach the West.

First 300-meter section of Yerevan’s Saralanji traffic center put into
exploitation

ARKA
21/09/2007 17:18

The first 300-meter section of Yerevan’s Saralanji traffic center was
put into exploitation on Friday, Yervand Zakharyan, the city mayor,
said Friday at a press conference.

Saralanji is a quite complicated traffic junction, which will be
constructed for relieving traffic in the center of the city.

"We have managed to put this section into exploitation in due time",
he said expressing gratitude to American entrepreneur Kerk Kerkorian,
who is Lincy Foundation founder, for funding this project.

Zakharyan said the traffic center construction will be completed in
September or October 2008.

Eduard Bezoyan, the director of the implementation of Lincy
Foundation’s road construction programs, said AMD 200 million (about
600 thousand) was spent for the first section construction.

Total cost of Saralanji highway construction project is $15 million.
Its length is 2.5 kilometers.

Lincy’s first program worth $150 million was under implementation in
2001 to 2003.

Another, $60-million program is being implemented now. The program
consists of three projects – road construction worth $20 million,
Yerevan roads repair worth $20 million and schools repair taking the
same amount.

The Armenian Festival of Orange County
PO Box 3136
Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3136

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kalajian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 17 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Contact: Seta Mergeanian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 15 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Contact: Paul Aslanian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 11 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Images available for download at

September 20, 2007

Armenians Now Represented In Annual Multicultural Festival Hosted by the
City of Irvine, California

IRVINE, CA – Organizers of the Armenian Festival of Orange County have
established a partnering relationship with the City of Irvine,
California, to present Armenia, its history, culture, and tourism and
business opportunities. Along with other countries in the City’s
annual Multicultural Festival, Armenians will now be represented in full
measure where over 10,000 visitors are expected. The festival will be
held on Saturday, September 29 at Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps
Memorial Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza, located adjacent to the Irvine
Civic Center at the corner of Barranca Parkway and Harvard, beginning at
10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

Festival admission is free. Food court tasting tickets are available
for purchase at the event. For more information and parking locations,
call (949) 724-6606 or visit

Now in its sixth year, Irvine’s multifaceted festival features
international cuisine, live entertainment, children’s activities,
cultural exhibits and demonstrations, and a world marketplace. One of
the City’s most popular events, the festival is a wonderful
opportunity for people to experience and share the cultural traditions
of their friends and neighbors.

`We’re very pleased to be a part of the Irvine Multicultural
Festival this year, said Armenian Festival Executive Director Paul
Aslanian. `With the experience we have gained establishing our own
festival, this was a natural fit,’ he continued. Aslanian was
referring to the 3rd Annual Armenian Festival which is to be held later
in Laguna Hills, CA on the weekend of October 13 and 14 at the Laguna
Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA at the
corner of Paseo de Valencia, about 1 mile west of the Alicia exit on
the 5 freeway.

`Within two weeks of each other, the Orange County community will
learn about Armenians in two festivals,’ explained veteran festival
organizer Tom Kalajian. `Two years ago, there were none,’ he
explained. `Our executive committee has worked closely together for
two years, so we can establish and organize events very quickly now.
We’ve still amazed by the outpouring of support and good wishes of the
community,’ he continued.

Irvine city officials learned of the work of the Armenian Festival and
realized collaboration between the two events would enhance the
diversity of the City’s annual celebration of cultures. `This was a
sudden and pleasant opportunity to expand the awareness of the Irvine
community,’ said Kalajian. Aslanian agrees. `We think Armenians
should be accurately portrayed as hard working citizens who have a
unique cultural perspective to offer,’ he said.

Providing important information about tourism and business opportunities
will be offices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia.
`Since tourism is a major part of the Armenian economy, the Irvine
Multicultural Festival is an ideal showcase for promoting travel to
Armenia, and introducing business opportunities, especially in the field
of Information Technology,’ an official stressed. `Our purposes are
mutually aligned,’ he said.

Planned are also youth musicians and samples of authentic Armenian food.
`We are receiving assistance from sources we never expected,’ said
Harry Krikorian of the Armenian Festival Executive Committee. `It’s
as though doors are opening for us automatically,’ he said. `It’s
wonderful to working in this positive atmosphere,’ he continued.

Originally conceived by Executive Director Paul Aslanian and a few
friends in 2005, the Armenian Festival of Orange County has been
successful every year. The festival is a non-denominational,
non-political, all-inclusive, not-for-profit organization administered
by non-affiliated independent unpaid volunteers.

The Armenian Festival’s colorful flyer, applications for booth
reservations, volunteers or information for sponsors, a photo gallery of
prior festivals, letters of appreciation and congratulations, and much
more information is available by visiting the Festival’s web site at
or by telephoning the 24-hour information
hotline at either (949) 309-2900 or toll-free at (888) HYE-FEST
(493-3378).

30

AGSHIN MEHDIYEV: THE MORE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, THE BETTER IT IS

Azeri Press Agency
[ 20 Sep 2007 13:36 ]

The more international organizations discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the better it is, Azerbaijani permanent representative to UN Agshin
Mehdiyev told the APA.

He stated that these discussions do not mean change of format of
OSCE Minsk group. The ambassador stated that they are not speaking
about changing format of Minsk Group and no one debates this issue
at present.

"It is good that Nagorno Karabakh conflict is in the agenda of
organization like UN. The more organizations should deal with this
problem," he said.

Mehdiyev mentioning that report on Nagorno Karabakh was adopted in
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) called it positive
fact.

JULFALAKYAN DISCONTENT WITH REFEREEING

A1+
[02:35 pm] 20 September, 2007

The Armenian delegation was in the center of everyone’s attention
at the World Championship in Baku. Azerbaijani journalists were not
allowed to interview Armenian coaches or wrestlers.

Instead, representatives of Russian mass media talked to the Armenian
national team. Levon Julfalakyan, the chief coach of Greek-Roman style
and Olympic Champion expressed his discontent with partial refereeing.

"I am not satisfied with the performances of my team.

My team was prepared to bring 2-4 medals from Baku and 5-6 Olympic
allowances. We won only one bronze medal and 2 allowances. The referees
did not allow us to compete properly. I ensure you, that I do not
like to complain and always look for the reasons of our failure in my
team, but here I have to point out the negative attitude of referees
toward the Armenian national team", he said. According to the coach,
specialists of any neutral country will express the same point of view.

"Roman Amoyan, 55 kg, European champion in 2006 competed with Rovash
Bayramov, European champion in 2007. The referees often helped the
hosts, and I wonder why they did not give any points to Amoyan.

Their judgment was also partial toward Arman Adikyan, 66 kg, who
fought for a bronze medal. The referees simply mocked at Denis Forov,
84 kg. At least the Armenian flag was raised in Baku owing to Yuri
Patrikeev", said the coach.

Julfalakyan finds that here everything was normal.

"Yuri was the only wrestler whom the referees treated fairly and the
result was the medal".

Julfalakyan thanked the employees of Azerbaijani security service
for their professional work.

"Of course, we felt embarrassed. It was difficult that we were
unable to attend public places, since the security employees always
accompanied us. But no incident took place due to the professionalism
of the employees of security service".

The Armenian team of Greek-Roman style took the 12-th place. The
winner was the US. Russia and Georgia followed the US.

Members of Turkish delegation complained of the World Championship in
Baku. The Turkish media wrote that the participants of the championship
faced many problems in Baku.

DE FACTO GOVERNMENT OF TSKHINVALI CELEBRATES "INDEPENDENCE DAY"

Prime News Agency
September 20, 2007, 11:38 am
Georgia

Tbilisi. September 20 (Prime-News) – De facto government of Tskhinvali
celebrates "Independence Day" of self-proclaimed Republic of South
Ossetia on September 20.

According to the statement of de facto government, guests from the
breakaway regions of Abkhazia, Transdnestria, and Nagorno-Karabakh,
also representatives form the Kazak communities and the republics
of the northern Caucasus will attend celebrations dedicated to
"Independence Day".

According to their information, law enforcement bodies have increased
security measures in order to prevent provocations.

De facto militia imposed restrictions on transportation of local
residents throughout the territory of Georgia one month ago.

EUROPEAN THOUGHT AND ARMENIAN CAUSE
Nikos Lygeros

KarabakhOpen
19-09-2007 10:13:35

The Turkish diplomacy must finally understand that any European
thinker, any defender of the human rights is foremost Armenian. We
do not find references to Armenia in the manuscripts of Leonardo da
Vinci merely by chance. This country always attracted Europe. Only
from now on its people are even more important because the genocide
of the Armenians of 1915 represents a paradigm in the field of the
human rights. Its victims of an all-out war without name are evidences
shouting in our memory because the men themselves keep silent. For
now, we do not have any more excuses because we are not ourselves
in direct danger. So we must show that the Armenian cause is one of
the fundamental components of the European thought. We were certainly
able to conceive the Declaration of the Human Rights. But other people
had to endure the consequences of its transgression. These innocents
gave a lesson to the righteous. They gave their life so that men
sacrifice theirs to this cause. We cannot be satisfied to say that
we are the children of the Declaration of the Human Rights, we are
also the parents of the children victims of the genocide. Because the
genocide of the Armenians, the first of the XXth century, modified
our way of seeing the human rights. It enabled us to understand what
the reality of a crime against humanity constitutes. The Turkish
diplomacy tries by any means to exclude the Armenian claims, as it
disputes the existence of Cyprus, in order to appear in a neutral
way. But the European thought did not forget the past because it is
imprescriptible and also because it is our past. We do not want to
accept the genocide of the memory, this other genocide of the Turkish
system. If we are Europeans it is also because we are Armenians
too, because our own history was wounded by the genocide of these
people. The Turkish diplomacy may well play the card of the new image,
we keep in memory those of the "Petit Illustre" of our ancestors that
illustrated the "massacre a la Turque". As the grown up children still
remember images of their school, our memory cannot forget the victims
of the genocide, because it is the continuation of their deaths. The
memory can transcend death but only the recognition of the genocide
transcends barbarousness. If Turkey does not recognize the genocide,
it will recognize that we are Armenians!