Author: Karakhanian Suren

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, February 2, 2007

Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR WELCOMES APPLICANTS FOR 2007 LEO SARKISIAN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

GLENDALE, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting applications
for the 2007 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of this competitive and prestigious
internship program, which is considered to be one of the best programs of
its kind for Armenian American students. Named after long-time ANCA activist
Leo Sarkisian, the eight-week intensive program brings together numerous
young Armenian Americans from across the country to gain first-hand
experience in the American political system while working on issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.

"The Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program provides young adults with a
valuable experience that can not be attained with any other internship,"
said Pattyl Aposhian Kasparian. "It’s a unique opportunity to work for the
Armenian cause in the nation’s capital while creating life-long
friendships," explained Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian, ANCA-WR Board member and
past Leo Sarkisian Intern.

In addition to working at the ANCA national headquarters, just blocks away
from the White House, Leo Sarkisian interns participate in bi-weekly lecture
series featuring a variety of guest speakers, including public officials and
Armenian American leaders from various professions. Interns are also exposed
to legislative offices and participate in meetings with prominent political
officials as part of the ANCA’s on-going advocacy work.

"It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," said Vache
Thomassian, 2006 ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern. "Working alongside the dedicated
staff of the ANCA, I learned about the inner workings of the U.S. government
and applied this knowledge on a daily basis."

The 2007 Leo Sarkisian Internship program will begin on June 18 and run
through August 10th. Applications for the internship are available through
the ANCA website at <; , click on the
Capital Gateway link. Applications must be postmarked by March 31 to be
considered for the 2007 program. After applications are reviewed, those
deemed qualified will be invited for an interview before final selections
are made in May 2007.

For more information, or to request applications, please contact the ANCA-WR
headquarters at (818) 500-1918 or by emailing us at [email protected].

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 Attached: 2006 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns

AKI, Italy
Feb 2 2007

TURKEY: ITALY’S TOP BISHOP TO HONOUR MURDERED PRIEST

Rome, 2 Feb. (AKI) – The head of Italy’s Catholic bishops’
conference, Cardinal Camillo Ruini will celebrate an anniversary mass
in Trabzon, Turkey next Monday for an Italian priest murdered in the
Black Sea port city. "The ceremony will be strictly private as we
wish that the media will not give it too much emphasis," Turkey’s
Catholic apostolic vicar, Monsignor Luigi Padovese, told Adnkronos
International (AKI). A 16-year-old Muslim boy shot Father Andrea
Santoro, 60, twice after mass at the priest’s Santa Maria Church in
Trabzon on 5 February 2006.

The Vatican’s ambassador to Turkey, Monsignor Antonio Lucibello will
join Ruini in the mass celebration at the Santa Maria Church. Ruini,
accompanied by Santoro’s mother and sister will fly to Turkey on
Sunday, Padovese said.

"The moment is very delicate and we prefer to maintain discretion to
avoid problems," added Padovese referring to tensions in Turkey
triggered by the assassination of a prominent ethnic Armenian
journalist, Hrant Dink in Istanbul on 19 January.

Santoro’s killer, identified as Q.A. in news reports because of his
age, was sentenced to 18 years and 10 months last October.

While it is still not clear if the murder – which took place at the
height of worldwide Muslim protests against the publishing in several
Western nations of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed – was religously
motivated, witnesses allegedly heard Q.A. shouting "Allah Akbar" (God
is great) after he opened fire.

On Thursday a storm broke out in Turkey over video images showing
police posing with Dink’s alleged killer and the Turkish flag. An
ultra-nationalist, Ogun Samast, 17 is charged with killing Dink, an
Orthodox Christian who had angered Turkish nationalists with repeated
assertions that the mass killings of Armenians during the ealy 20th
century was genocide – a claim which is regarded as a crime in
Turkey.

Human rights activists have alleged that Dink’s murder was plotted by
ultra-nationalists supported by elements within the police, the
bureaucracy and the military. The images broadcast on Thursday have
added ammunition to those who claim some officials may have
instigated or even colluded in the planning of Dink’s murder.

Turkish police authorties deny any wrongdoing.

Tens of thousands of people marched at Dink’s funeral in Istanbul,
many of them chanting for Turkey to abolish a repressive article in
the penal code used against many intellectuals, including Dink and
Nobel-prize winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, who have spoken on
the controverial topic of the Armenian massacre or the status of
Christians in mostly Muslim Turkey.

Armenpress

AZERBAIJANI LAWMAKER SLAMS THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

BAKU, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS: An Azerbaijani
parliament member lashed out today at the OSCE Minsk
Group accusing it of hampering, instead of helping,
the peace solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In an interview with the Russian RIA news agency,
Elman Mamedov questioned the sincerity of the latest
statement by the Minsk Group which they made after
visiting Baku and Yerevan to discuss ways to end the
dispute. The Azeri lawmaker claimed that the best
description that can be given to the OSCE Minsk Group
that is made up of cochairmen from Russia, France and
USA is ‘a travel agency."
Mamedov went as far as to say that the cochairmen’s
latest statement was an ‘irresponsible’ move,
questioning also their assertions that the
responsibility for ending the conflict lies on the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "If the
presidents could agree on a peace deal why then we
have the Minsk Group?" he asked.
"Azerbaijan has no room to concession. It’s stance
is clear, the conflict must be resolved based on the
principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,’ he
said.

Ïðàî ûáîðà, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Feb 1 2007

Meeting of Sub-Committee on Nagorni Garabagh Held
01.02.2007

January 25, one more meeting of sub-committee of Council of Europe on
Nagorni-Garabagh conflict, participated by full delegations of
parliaments from Azerbaijan and Armenia, was held.
Head of delegation of Azerbaijani parliament, Samad Seidov, said to
correspondent of AzerTac concerning the meeting: `This meeting of
sub-committee was positively evaluated. Once again we were strict
while raising the issue on observance of resolution N1416 adopted 2
years ago by Council of Europe.
Members of the Committee and Armenian part agreed that resolution
should be observed. Thus to date only one item was implemented
connected with creation of sub-committee.
Second issue under discussion concerned visit of chairman of
sub-committee to the region and it was decided that it should take
place. Chairman of committee told about his upcoming visit to
Azerbaijan and Nagorni Garabagh. No talks were held on visit to
Armenia as preparations for parliamentary elections there are under
way.
I raised the issue which causes serious concern of our delegation, –
this issue is connected with spread of false information in Council
of Europe. Mostly it concerns conflict. That is why I specially
underlined importance of thorough checking of information coming to
the Council of Europe and their presentation to the sub-committee. I
declared that this information should certainly be considered by
committee.
Finally, we also decided to continue such meetings’.

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
February 1, 2007 Thursday 3:56 PM MSK

Russian base in Armenia not a threat to region, Baku – Putin

Russia’s military base in Armenia is not directed against any state,
including Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a news
conference in the Kremlin on Thursday.

"I would like to highlight the fact that the Russian military base in
Armenia is not directed any other countries in the region’s
interests, and this includes Azerbaijan," the president said.

During a spell of high tensions in Ajaria, Georgia, Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili once said that "he was afraid that our
military would be conducting backstage activities," Putin said.

"I answered him that no such thing would happen and later he thanked
me for this, saying that they saw that the Russian military stood
aside from the development of the situation. The same thing is true
regarding the Russian base in Armenia," Putin said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azerbaijani side again failed to lead OSCE observers to its frontline
31.01.2007 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On January 31, according to an agreement achieved
earlier with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the
OSCE Mission conducted a regular monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact line in the east direction of
the settlement of Talish of the NKR Martakert region. From the
positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring conducted Coordinator
of the OSCE Office Imre Palatinus (Hungary), Field Assistants of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Gunter Folk
(Germany) and Miroslav Vimetal (Czechia).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned
schedule. However, the Azerbaijani side at a regular time did not lead
the OSCE observers to its frontline. During the monitoring, no
violations of the ceasefire were fixed. From the Karabakh party
representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense
Ministry accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission, reported the NKR MFA
press office.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Parliamentary elections in Armenia to be held May 12
30.01.2007 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Parliamentary elections in Armenia
will be held May 12, 2007. Yesterday Armenian
President Robert Kocharian signed the corresponding
decree, the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist was told in
presidential Press Office.

Mediamax, Armenia
Jan 29 2007

SPOKESMAN CONFIRMS RUSSIA’S PLAN TO BUILD OIL REFINERY IN ARMENIA

Yerevan, 29 January: The press secretary of the Armenian president,
Viktor Sogomonyan, confirmed today at a briefing in Yerevan that
Yerevan and Moscow are discussing the construction of an oil refinery
in the south of the republic, near the border with Iran.

Viktor Sogomonyan pointed out that "there is no final outline yet and
it is only a project", Mediamax reported. The presidential spokesman
added that the sides should work out the details of the project.

The reality makes Turkey nervous

armradio.am
29.01.2007 13:39

It’s only the Turkish Parliament that can adopt a decision on opening
the border with Armenia, Igdir Governor Saffet Karahisarli told the
journalists, commenting on the statements on the possibility of opening
the Armenian-Turkish border, which passes through Igdir, Trend agency
reports.

Expressing his opinion on the opportunity of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border, Saffet Karahisarli emphasized the importance
of friendly steps by Armenia. He added that that `first of all Armenia
should stop the pressure EU member states and other countries to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.’ `It makes Turkey even more nervous
and does not promote the restoration of trust between the two peoples,’
said the Turkish Governor. In his words, Armenia should reconsider its
negative attitude towards Turkey, which can lead to the activation of
trade-economic relations, which will primarily benefit Armenia.

Kurdish Media, UK
Jan 28 2007

A message to Mr Hrant Dink mourners

1/28/2007 KurdishMedia.com – By Kameel Ahmady

A message to Mr Hrant Dink mourners: Kurdish people are eager for
reconciliation and peaceful respect between ethnicities

It was with sadness that I heard last week of the death of Hrant
Dink, who worked courageously and tirelessly for a Turkey where
understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures, and open dialogue
between ethnicities would triumph, instead of the intractability from
many sides which currently reigns.

Later that week, I was also saddened to read some articles on
websites, statements which for me so missed the point of Hrant’s life
and work. I refer to those that were tinged with an anger and hatred
that seemed to reflect this intractability and betray movement toward
honest and respectful dialogue, both between ethnic groups and with
the state. These were marked by the kind of chauvinism which we see
all too often in (ethnic) nationalist ideologies; focussing on
Kurdish suffering, they do little to empathize with the plight of
Armenians. In conclusion, one such article invited us to view grisly
images, which, though tragically honest in their depiction of the
brutality of the Turkish state, were out of place in the context of a
memorial to one man’s life.

This week at the funeral of Mr. Dink, mourners, in the thousands,
poured into Istanbul’s streets, carrying placards which read `We are
all Armenians now’. Even this was critiqued in mocking tones. Some
have cynically raised the question that it is not reasonable for
Turks to now be claiming kinship with Armenians, since their very
ancestors participated in the genocide of 1915. However, let us not
question or condemn this act out of turn. Cannot people admit to
their past transgressions, and does this not display a will for
future peace? I am sure that it is not necessary to remind my Kurdish
friends that there were some of our people who participated in the
slaughter of their Armenian neighbours perpetrated by the Ottoman
state, just as there were many Kurds who fought to protect and save
Armenians, hiding them in their homes.

Reconciliation calls for honesty, and a real will to respect the
memory and experience of others; to put aside hatreds, however
justified; to acknowledge that we all have elements of good and bad.
The symbolic power of this gesture – `We are all Armenians’ – a
gesture of openness, and yes, even empathy, must not be
underestimated. Indeed, this sort of identification with `the other’
may represent the greatest hope we have seen for a long time in the
battle to overcome inter-ethnic tensions in Turkey. The Turkish state
has been accused of making hasty and false remarks of condolence
which exploit the death of Mr. Dink; I think such statements are no
less guilty of this charge.

While I try to understand and even empathize with life experience in
which violence and oppression lead to such rage, I cannot see it as
justified in this context. Some of us have tried, and should continue
to reaffirm our commitment to working with our friends in the
struggle for democracy and human rights of Kurdish people; this
includes a responsibility to be honest, to give a viewpoint which is
not entrenched in ideology, but in ideals. We should challenge some
of our extreme point of views to bring about change through openness
and goodwill.

Will such statements help to promote the spirit of respect and
communication that Mr. Dink advocated, often alienating him from even
many fellow Armenians? My fear is that they will have the opposite
effect, and indeed might easily be dismissed by detractors as just so
much fanatical ranting.

Worse still, they degrade the memory of Hrant Dink and his
achievements, by flying in the face of all he worked for. Hrant Dink
lived his life and pursued his work with a sense of goodwill and
openness towards all, including those who had been responsible for
the attempted extermination of his people. Surely we can honour his
memory by continuing in this spirit, and in offering the same to our
perceived adversaries.

Let us show the world that the Kurdish people are eager for such
reconciliation and peaceful respect between ethnicities. Let us
embrace the legacy that he left for us.