Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZG Armenian Daily #044, 10/03/2007

Religious Controversies

ADDRESS OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem addressed the faithful of the
Armenian church on February 21, 2007 with the following message"

"Dear Faithful of the Armenian Church,

As the Armenian Community in Jerusalem prepares for Holy Week and the
Holy Fire Ceremony that takes place on Saturday of Holy Week (April 7,
2007), within the Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre, we ask for your help in preserving the centuries-old Status
Quo rights of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, represented
by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In 2003, conflict arose with the Greek Orthodox Church over this
Ceremony. They demanded a deviation from the Status Quo procedures
that give the Armenian Patriarch or his representative the right to
enter the Holy Tomb together. Appeals to the Israeli Government since
that time, including legal recourse, the rendering of expert testimony
and evidence, and negotiation with the Greek Orthodox Church have not
produced a clear decision. The Status Quo procedures for the Holy
Places have been in existence for hundreds of years and are anchored
in the Ottoman period.

We urge all of our Armenian brothers and sisters around the world to
e-mail and/or fax the petition below in their name, or in the name of
an organization, to the Ministers of the Israeli Government listed
below, or to their local Israeli Embassy or Consulate. Ask that this
issue be resolved before the day of the Holy Fire Ceremony on April 7,
2007, so that the centuries-old Status Quo rights of the Armenian
Orthodox Church in Jerusalem may be maintained. Your participation is
crucial."

The following message was sent to the Representatives of the Israeli
Government:

"Since 2003, there has been conflict between the Armenian Orthodox and
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchates over the Holy Fire Ceremony held in
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Saturday of Easter Week. The
Greek Patriarchate demanded a deviation from the Status Quo procedures
that gives the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem or his representative
the right to enter the Holy Tomb together. Appeals to the Israeli
Government since that time, including legal recourse, the rendering of
expert testimony and evidence, and negotiation with the Greek Orthodox
Church have not produced a clear decision. The Status Quo procedures
for the Holy Places have been in existence for hundreds of years and
are anchored in the Ottoman period.

This year, the Holy Fire Ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
is on April 7, 2007, I urge the Israeli Government to expeditiously
restore the centuries-old Status Quo rights of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem as it was prior to 2003.

Divan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem"

Week of NATO to be held in Armenia Mar 12-16

Arminfo
2007-03-09 12:14:00

NATO week will be held in Armenia Mar 12-16, Armenian Deputy FM Arman
Kirakossyan told journalists today.

The week will be held in the framework of Armenia-NATO
cooperation. The program of the week includes the demonstration of a
film about NATO on Armenian TV channels, the conduct of Armenia-Kosovo
TV bridge concerning the activities of Armenian peacekeepers in
Kosovo, visits by high-ranking NATO officials.

To note, Armenia has been cooperating with NATO under IPAP since 2005.

Water Technology Online, NY
March 8 2007

FDA recalls bottled water from Armenian co.

WASHINGTON – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising
consumers not to drink bottled water brands from Jermuk, an Armenian
producer of mineral water, according to a March 8 United Press
International report.

Three brands of Jermuk water were shown to have arsenic levels of 500
to 600 micrograms per liter; this exceeds the FDA’s standard for
quality bottled water, which allows for no more than 10 micrograms of
arsenic per liter.

The water being recalled is packaged in green bottles that carry any
of these labels: "Jermuk Original Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Fortified With Natural Gas From The Spring;" "Jermuk Sodium Calcium
Bicarbonate and Sulphate Mineral Water;" or "Jermuk, Natural Mineral
Water Sparkling."

Jermuk, which distributes its water internationally, has been in
business since 1951.

p;N_ID=66695

LE QUID MIS HORS DE CAUSE POUR UNE PRESENTATION CONTROVERSEE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Par Eloi Rouyer

Agence France Presse
7 mars 2007 mercredi

La cour d’appel de Paris a deboute mercredi le Comite de defense de
la Cause armenienne (CDCA) qui avait poursuivi le Quid, estimant
que la presentation du genocide armenien par le celèbre ouvrage
encyclopedique comportait des accents negationnistes.

Le CDCA a exprime l’intention de se pourvoir en cassation.

Rejoint par plusieurs associations, dont J’accuse et Memoire 2000, il
remettait en cause la presentation faite par le Quid 2003 du massacre
des Armeniens par la Turquie, estimant qu’elle aboutissait a nier le
caractère genocidaire de cet evenement historique.

Le CDCA reprochait notamment aux auteurs de l’ouvrage d’avoir
ecrit pour l’annee 1915: "Transfert d’Armeniens vers les province
meridionales de l’Empire ottoman (…) nombreux decès (epidemie,
maladie) pendant le voyage".

Dans son arret, la 11e chambre de la cour d’appel a estime que "la
simple relation de thèses +revisionnistes+" ne pouvait "engager la
responsabilite de celui qui, ne niant pas lui-meme la realite du
genocide armenien, ne prend pas parti sur le bien-fonde des opinions
visant a en contester la realite, ne les reprend pas a son compte et
n’entend ni legitimer la position turque sur la question armenienne,
ni lui donner du credit".

Pour la cour, "en se bornant a faire etat de la position du
gouvernement turc, sans la presenter comme la thèse privilegiee
avant d’operer un renvoi a la position armenienne sur cette question,
en rendant compte, dans les limites autorisees par un ouvrage où les
chiffres priment sur les mots, des differentes evaluations du genocide
des Armeniens de 1915 a la rubrique +Armenie+, les societes editrices
de Quid n’ont pas manque a leurs devoirs de prudence et d’objectivite
que les utilisateurs sont en droit d’exiger de cet outil".

Le president du CDCA, Harout Mardirossian, a annonce a l’AFP qu’il
allait former un pourvoi en cassation contre cet arret qui vient
contredire la position prise par le tribunal en première instance.

En effet, le 6 juillet 2005, la 17ème chambre du tribunal de
grande instance (TGI) avait condamne le Quid a payer un euro de
dommages-interets au CDCA et aux differentes associations qui
l’avaient rejoint.

A l’issue de l’audience, M. Mardirossian a fait part d’un "sentiment
de revolte qui gronde et qui va sans doute se propager a l’egard du
gouvernement et de la France car, par cet arret, on remet en cause
la memoire des victimes".

"Dire que le Quid n’a pas privilegie la position turque est une
aberration totale", a-t-il ajoute.

Du côte du Quid, on se rejouissait de la decision prise par la cour.

"Le debat d’idees sur comment doit etre presente un crime international
est legitime et necessaire", a d’abord souligne Me William Bourdon,
l’avocat de l’ouvrage.

"Mais il ne saurait y avoir de presentation judiciairement correcte
de ces crimes sauf a ouvrir une boîte de Pandore qui ferait des juges
les arbitres permanents de l’Histoire", a-t-il precise, ajoutant que,
"par ailleurs, la realite du genocide armenien n’etait pas contestee
par le Quid".

–Boundary_(ID_az7NkCFmxpYmUi0Lfg+WBg )–

1500 TURCS ATTENDUS A LAUSANNE

Le Matin
06 mars 2007 mardi
Edition Semaine

Les partisans de Dogu Perincek profiteront du procès lausannois pour
faire du bruit. Et diffuser leur credo negationniste le plus largement
possible. Rendez-vous est fixe a ce matin 8 h 30 sur la place de la
Riponne a Lausanne. Plusieurs centaines de militants turcs jusqu’a
1500, selon un organisateur , qui auront voyage toute la nuit en car
d’Allemagne, de France et d’Angleterre donneront de la voix. Dogu
Perincek viendra en personne les saluer avant d’entrer en audience.

Multiples conferences de presse, colloque dans un hôtel neuchâtelois
mercredi Le Comite Talaat Pacha (qualifie de "xenophobe et raciste"
par le Parlement europeen) a vu les choses en grand et diffuse son
programme en turc sur le site !

Arrive pour sa part en Suisse dimanche, Dogu Perincek a assure hier
après-midi au centre culturel turc de Renens (VD) qu’il faisait
"confiance a la justice suisse" pour conclure a l’absence de genocide
armenien. "Nous nous sommes bien prepares pour ce procès", a averti
l’accuse, flanque d’"une quarantaine d’avocats" pour la cause. Hier
soir deja, plus de 170 intellectuels turcs de haut rang avaient rallie
la Suisse par avion.

–Boundary_(ID_sHbx4zVujV+uypjQo8ftxw)–

THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO BAN THE ‘UMBRELLA COMMERCIALS’

Arminfo
2007-03-07 16:37:00

Armenian Government adopted the amendment to the law on advertisement
banning "umbrella commercials" of brands.

The so-called "umbrella commercials" (UC) is mostly focused against
producers of strong alcoholic drinks and tobacco products – which
advertise their products by means of the goods that do not have
advertising limits. Armenia’s Government says that companies using
UC can mislead consumers and harm health.

WORKS LAUNCHED IN TURKEY IN FRAMEWORK OF KARS-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.03.2007 18:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish authorities have launched preparation
works of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project, Turkish
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hussein Avni Karsioglu stated. The decision
of building a branch line has been made and the authorities began the
process of privatization of land under the construction and payment
of compensations to people who live along the way of construction,
"Trend" reports.

AZAD REHIMOV: THE MATCHES WITH ARMENIA MAY TAKE PLACE ONLY IN NEUTRAL FIELD

Azeri Press Agency
March 6 2007

"We cannot raise the flag, or play the anthem of a country that has
occupied 20 percent of our lands"

Youth and Sports minister Azad Rehimov interviewed by APA-Sport agency

-Is there any latest news about the place of the matches between
Azerbaijani and Armenian national squads?

-Azerbaijan has over one million refugees and displaced people. Their
parents and relatives were killed by Armenians. We cannot guarantee
that none of them will attack and beat Armenian players during the
matches. We cannot raise the flag, or play the anthem of a country
that has occupied 20 percent of our lands. This is our last decision.

We don’t want Azerbaijan-Armenia matches to take place neither in
Baku nor in Yerevan. Azerbaijan has already expressed its position
to the UEFA. The matches may take place only in neutral field.

– May any problem occur in a neutral field?

– It has been many times that the countries at war played in
neutral fields. If the UEFA passes a decision about the matches
to take place in Baku and Yerevan, we may receive technical 0-3
defeat. We are ready even to admit it. While being in Switzerland,
I asked the UEFA vice-president and chief of the commission for
place of Azerbaijan-Armenia match if any sanction will be imposed on
Azerbaijan in case if Armenian players are injured by the fans. He said
"yes". Then I asked what they want. I asked if they want us to line
soldiers and police officers from airport to the hotel. It is not
a football. How it is possible that our enemies arrive at the hotel
with security. The negotiations are being carried out on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict between the countries. Any event in the stadium in
Baku may negatively influence the negotiation process. May the UEFA
officials ensure that such events will not ruin the talks?

But we haven’t received any answers yet.

– What do you think about the matches to be in a closed stadium?

– Not all the factors I stated concern the fans. I don’t speak about
raising Armenian flag and playing its national anthem. There are many
refugee families settling in the hostels near the ministry. How can
they be calm if they know Armenians are playing in the other side of
the fence? The guaranty is a very serious issue.

– Why did you accept Armenians’ participation in the world wrestling
championship to take place in September in Baku?

– Armenia has no strong wrestlers. They have included 5 wrestlers from
Ossetia in their national team. They will attend the competition. As
the wrestling is not very popular, no Armenian fan will come to
Baku. Taking into consideration all these factors, we accepted that
they come to Baku. It is possible to ensure security of few Armenian
sportsmen in Sports Concert Complex.

– Armenians in Russian national team also refuse to come to Baku…

– It is up to them. They had also refused to join world boxing cup.

They refuse because they are afraid. Armenian champion Punik club
refused to play against Azerbaijani Neftchi in the Unity Cup last year
in Moscow. They said Russian Federation didn’t guarantee their safety.

– You have proposed to play in Austria, Switzerland or Ukraine. Did
you have any discussions with these countries?

– The AFFA addressed to the football federations of the UEFA member
states when we decided to play in neutral fields. More than half of
the countries gave positive answers. The AFFA chose three of them. I
think this is a right choice.

– Youth and Sports Ministry has announced to build a stadium admitting
70.000 people if Azerbaijan will be allowed to host Olympiad. Have
you choose place for the construction yet?

– There is a large field around the road to the airport. It is possible
to build not only a stadium, but also a Olympian town there.

There are also suitable places in Hovsan and Nobel Avenue. But for
now the main objective is to pass to the second stage among those
who intend to host 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

– What steps are you taking forward on the issue?

– We will present all necessary documents in time. We are working on
this. The other ministries also assist us as well.

– Foreign players are being included in the national football team of
Azerbaijan. How heartily can they play at the matches against Armenia?

– First of all, this is the selection and strategy of the head coach.

As a ministry, we cannot interfere with the plans of the coach. I
think Azerbaijani football needs foreign players now, because we
need better games to attract people and to make football popular in
Azerbaijan. It is a pity that local players cannot play well. It is
good to pick foreign players in the first stage. Thy play, they win
and people become interested and come to the stadium. It makes the
children to be interested in this sport. You can see how well the
national underage teams play. It serves to a gradual development of
football. As for foreigners’ playing heartily, of course, they won’t
be as selfless as Azerbaijanis. But they are paid salary and they
play well. I think they can achieve result.

– But there is no improvement in the national team though foreign
players have included in there…

– The most titled club of the world Real has only two qualified
Spanish players-goalkeeper Iker Casilias and forward Raul Gonsales.

But Real is famous as a Spanish club. Foreign players represent not
their homeland but the team they are playing in.

– 3+2 legionary limit have been put in our clubs. How expedient is
it to pick 6 foreigners in lineup?

– We have proposed the AFFA to discuss the limitation in the
conference, because the appeals and complaints by the clubs should
be reconsidered. It is in AFFA’s authority to put the issue in
discussion of football society. If clubs have proposals on the
limitation of players, it is better to hold a conference. The issue
will be reconsidered on April 26.

– There will be new elections to the AFFA at the end of the year.

Considering the problem that occurred between former leadership of
the federation and the ministry, how would you assess the activity
of current leadership?

– Former leadership of the AFFA had problem with not only the
ministry, but also with whole Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani football has
been entrusted to the AFFA. They operate by analyzing their duties. I
can assess them. Actually, they may be assessed according to the
results. Personally, I think football needs ten years to be improved.

– As far as is known, state officials in the national federations will
be replaced with a business people. Don’t you think this process should
be accelerated in order to ensure the freedom of the federations?

– I should state that our federations are free. If federation
chairman is a state servant, it doesn’t mean this organization is not
free. Sport is not a dividend field in Azerbaijan. The players don’t
earn much salary. The channels spend a great amount to broadcast any
international competition. But they don’t earn enough money from the
ads. Our sportsmen have no deal with foreign companies. Football is
not a beneficial field in Azerbaijan. We spend a lot of money to this
field to develop it. The players have problems which needs someone
to solve them. Youth and Sport ministry does everything possible to
solve financial problems. State officials can afford it. It is not
any financial problems. That’s why the various kinds of sports have
been entrusted to state servants.

– When is the president of Fencing Federation elected?

– We have no candidate who can be engaged in the problems of fencing.

The problems on this field should be raised in state, Parliament or
some ministry. We haven’t chosen anyone-sportsman, businessman or
state servant. We have offered the post to the businessmen as well
as state servants. Some have much work and some intend to be engaged
in other fields.

– Freestyle wrestling and lawn hockey federations are led by the same
person. Azerbaijan has opportunities to be represented in Olympic
Games in both fields. Won’t it be difficult to focus on both fields?

– Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammedov is the president of both
federations. But as we are informed, minister and his deputy have
shared the fields. Thus Fazil Mammedov is engaged in freestyle
wrestling and deputy minister Namig Aliyev is engaged in lawn hockey.

Fazil Mammedov is de-jure the president of both federations. The law
doesn’t forbid this.

– The attention to non-Olympic games differs from Olympic ones. Is
it connected with that non-Olympic games are not so popular?

– Karate is the second most popular sport after football in Azerbaijan
as well as in the world. We cannot say that karate is out of the
attention. 15 karate federations have united lately and formed a
Council. The ministry has allocated money to the Council. The Council
is to inform the ministry about honorary titles, categories of coaches,
foreign passports, military service of the sportsmen and etc. Sambo
was created during the former USSR period. It becomes less popular
in the world. But we contribute to the Sambo Federation and sambo
fighters. We also help chess players, kick boxers and powerlifters
in Azerbaijan. Baku will host European bodybuilding championship in
May. We focus on the organization of the competition and contribute
to it. Of course, there is a difference in financial support to the
Olympic games and non-Olympic games. Olympic sport games are of great
importance for the country.

– Have you taken any measure against the injustice that Azeri chess
player Teymour Radjabov faced in Mexico?

– Foreign Affairs Ministry invited Mexican ambassador to Turkey to
the Azerbaijani embassy in the same country. The embassy expressed
protest against the negligence by Patsuaro city structures to
the robbery. Patsuaro Mayor received Azerbaijan Chess Federation
vice-president Faig Hesenov and presented him a computer as
compensation. He said the event is being investigated by the police
and promised that the robbers will be found soon. Besides, we also
sent a protest letter to the International Chess Federation. We have
also suggested changing the date of competition which world famous
grandmaster doesn’t participate in.

– Sport has not been organized in high level in the Olympic Complexes
in the regions. What measures are you going to take as an adequate?

– The sport is organized well in Olympic Complex in Ganja. It is
never empty. There are always trainings and competitions. Guba
Olympic Complex also often hosts competitions. The complex provides
all opportunities for good training. Sheki Olympic Complex is being
repaired now. The complex in Shamakhi is not so active. But we are
working on it. I wish Mashtaga Olympic Complex to have competitions
more often. Olympic Complex should be near the city. Children shouldn’t
get there by bus or any other vehicles. Some complexes in the regions
are not so active because children there are interested in non-Olympic
games. Some complexes suffer financial problems. We are engaged in
this issue. There is a proposal to give a license to the complexes
free of charge. This will give the ministry an opportunity to be aware
of events in the regional complexes. The Olympic Complexes should be
closely connected and cooperate with federations and ministry.

– There is one more problem that some children are not allowed to
the complex because they don’t afford it.

– We have passed decision that time and dates should be scheduled for
national teams. The sportsmen should train in the complexes free of
charge if they have competitions or trainings in the regions.

Besides, poor children should train in the section of the complexes
free of charge. To organize a two-hour training twice or three times
a week won’t harm the activities of the complex. It won’t be damaged
by sharing 6 or 8 hours for free trainings if the complex operates
and earn all day long.

US shield in Ukraine, Caucasus could spark regional crisis-MP

15:42|02/ 03/ 2007

MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti) – Including Ukraine and the Caucasus
nations into a U.S. air-defense system could cause another internal
political crisis in these countries, a senior Russian MP said Friday.

A senior Pentagon official said Thursday that the United States "would
like to place a radar base in the Caucasus" amid earlier reports of
plans to deploy elements of a missile shield in Poland and the Czech
Republic, which have further strained relations between the U.S. and
Russia.

Akhmed Bilanov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for
CIS Affairs, told RIA Novosti that the events that occurred in the
Crimea last year and the subsequent protests against
Ukrainian-U.S. military exercises clearly demonstrated that "Ukrainian
society was divided on the issue of NATO."

He said any further pressure would only exacerbate the situation in
these countries, and possibly in the entire region.

"Needless to say, this situation will not be of any benefit to the
United States, quite the contrary, it would cause additional problems
and make the U.S. security system more vulnerable," Bilanov said.

Russia, which has been anxious about NATO bases that have been
deployed in former Communist-bloc countries and ex-Soviet republics,
has blasted the plans to deploy anti-missile systems in Central Europe
as a national security threat and a destabilizing factor for Europe.

The deployment of a U.S. anti-missile radar system in the Caucasus
would not affect Russia’s defense capabilities, but the country could
respond to the move nevertheless, the Russian Air Force commander said
earlier on Friday.

Vladimir Mikhailov said Russia was capable of offering an adequate
response to the deployment.

Washington said the defense system was designed to counter possible
strikes from North Korea and Iran, which are involved in long-running
disputes with the international community over their nuclear programs.

Lieutenant General Henry Obering, who oversees the Pentagon’s Missile
Defense Agency, did not specify which country in the Caucasus might be
selected as a possible site for an anti-missile radar, but a senior
Russian analyst suggested Friday that Georgia would be the most likely
site.

"The most convenient territory [for the radar], in political terms, is
currently Georgia, which has not as yet raised objections to any U.S.
proposals," said Leonid Ivashov, deputy head of the Academy of
Geopolitical Problems think tank. "I believe the Americans could
station a radar there."

But he said that deployment in Azerbaijan was also a possibility.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in Munich last month
that Georgia could become a candidate to join the alliance in 2009 if
it successfully carried out the necessary military reforms of its
Armed Forces.

The Georgian Defense Ministry had no comment on the matter Friday.

Azerbaijan said Washington had not yet approached it with any
proposals.

Ivashov also said Russia would have to monitor missile systems in the
Caucasus to ensure its security.

US media body laments increasing pressure on Armenian journalists

Arminfo
2 Mar 07

Yerevan, 2 March: Sixteen cases of preventing journalists from
exercising their professional duties were registered in Armenia in
2006, a study by Internews, a non-governmental organization, has
revealed. Only one of those cases has been referred to court.

David Sandukhchyan, the head of the Internews legal department, has
said the number of attacks on Armenian journalists has significantly
grown compared with previous years. Moreover, in most cases, the law
enforcers have played the role of the "pressure mechanism" on the mass
media. He described as unacceptable the situation when no individual
or entity had been prosecuted for physical violence against
journalists. Sandukhchyan said that only in few cases, some
individuals had been subjected to "minor" fines.

According to the study, only one criminal case has been launched under
Article 164 of the Armenian Criminal Code (preventing journalists from
exercising their professional duties, or pressuring them to
disseminate or not to disseminate information) since 1 August 2003; a
case was launched after a claim was filed by Aravot reporter Anna
Israyelyan. The case ended by the [assailant] paying 100,000 drams
[about 280 dollars] to the victim [Israyelyan]. So, Sandukhchyan
said, Article 164 exists only on paper. In reality, mass media
representatives are not protected by the law at all. "The country’s
government has not worked out effective mechanisms of protecting the
professional activities of journalists," Sandukhchyan said. He said
that in some cases, after journalists had turned to law-enforcement
agencies, criminal cases were launched against them (as it was the
case with photo journalist Gagik Shemshyan).

He said the situation in the country is such that representatives of
courts and law-enforcement agencies, applying brutal and illegal
methods, also cover up illegal activities of individuals and
entities. "I don’t rule out that there might be more cases of
unpunished pressure on journalists in connection with the forthcoming
parliamentary election," he said.

According to Sandukhchyan, only a stricter punishment for preventing
journalists from exercising their professional duties could change the
situation more or less. Internews has proposed amending Article 164 of
the Armenian Criminal Code as follows: actions against journalists or
their proxies when exercising their professional duties, which involve
violence and which result in harm inflicted to health or life, shall
be punished by a fine equalling 250 to 450 minimal salaries or
corrective labour for up to two years or imprisonment for up to five
years.