Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 17 2007

Genocide blunder in US Embassy almanac

While debates continue in the US over a resolution presented to
Congress on the alleged Armenian genocide, an almanac distributed by
the US Embassy in Ankara lists Turkey as a country that has committed
genocide.

"The World Almanac and Book of Facts" was first published in 1868 by
the New York World newspaper and has long been distributed by the US
Embassy in Ankara. However this year’s version contains a reference
to the early 20th century killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
as "genocide," a label Turkey vehemently denies.

The most recent version of the annual almanac, which covers important
events in US and world history, mentioned Turkey in the "Crime and
Terrorist activities; Genocide" section.

The almanac noted that the term "genocide" was first used by Dr.
Raphael Lemkin in 1944 and asserts that the definition of the world
contained the practices of "members of a group being killed, serious
bodily injuries to members of a group, prevention of births and
children being removed from the group."

The almanac continued with the following statements:

"The year: 1915, the event: Armenians being destroyed by Young Turks,
the location: Turkey, the Ottoman Empire, estimated deaths: some 1
million."

Other examples of genocide listed in the 2007 World Almanac of Books
and Facts were the events that occurred in Ukraine in the 1930s, the
experiences of Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany from 1933-1945, the
activities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia from 1975-1979, the murder
of Iraqi Kurds in 1988, the experience of Bosnians from 1992-1995,
the events that took place in Rwanda in 1994 and the events in
Sudan’s Darfur region ongoing since 2003.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2007

REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN SCIENCE COFERENCE
ON DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS IN PARIS

YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. Representative of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, inspector of the theological seminary Gevorgyan,
Archimandrite Vazgen Nanyan will participate in the two-week science
conference titled "Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations: Bridge
Between Human Rights and Cultural Values" to kick off in Paris on
Tuesday.
The department of interchurch relations of the Holy Echmiadzin (AAC
Center) reported that the conference is organized under the patronage
of UNESCO and by the efforts of the World political forum Dialogue of
Civilizations.
The following topics will be discussed at the conference: Human
Rights in the Context of Different World Outlooks and Cultures, Role
of Authorities, Civil Society, Schools, and Mass Media in the
Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations, and Challenges of Global
Changes. R.O. -0–

STATE HAMAZGAYIN THEATER CONTINUES STAGING AND KEEPING TRADITIONS OF
ARMENIAN THEATER

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Hamazgayin (National)
Theater collective prepares for staging Russian writer Anton Chekhov’s
"Uncle Vania" play. The theater performed in 2006 Herny’s "A Cheat’s
Daughter" and Eduardo de Fillipo’s "Natale in Casa Cupiello"
(Christmas at the Cupiello’s) plays which are about clear human
relations and love.

As theater director Hrachia Gasparian mentioned in the interview with
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, in 1991 when Armenia was in war state,
the country was burried in gloom, cultural hearths were everywhere
robbed and destroyed, many theaters did not function, prominent actor
Sos Sargsian had the courage to found a theater, with an indubitable
confidence that people making a war, perhaps, needs theather.

Just at that time, owing to a group of prominent actors, Shahum
Ghazarian, Karen Janibekian, Galya Novents, Mayis Gharagyozian, Davit
Nersisian, Anna Elbakian and others, left the G.Sundukian State
Academic Theater, Sos Sargsian was able to gather and found the State
Hamazgayin Theater.

And the newly founded theater already staged in 1993 two wonderful
performances: Edurado de Filippo’s "Il Sindaco del Rione Sanita"
(Mayor of Sanita Alley) and Hayk Hakobian’s "Mountain Tulips" round
which the "Hamazgayin" unfailing spectator has gradually formed.

In H.Gasparian’s words, the theater foundation was not an end in
itself by Sos Sargsian during those years. It was aimed to keep
traditions of the Armenian theater for the spectator does not break
away with its spiritual values.

The director facted that in 1993-1994 when "grad (firings from "grad"
systems) flew in the border settlements of Armenia, the company
organized tours in Tavush, Goris, Kapan and other places numerous
times. The Hamazgayin company staged in those years 14 performances, 5
of which for grown-ups, and others for children. And just during those
years it participated in a number of festivals in Russia, Persia,
Lebanon, Syria and France.

In H. Gasparian’s words, at present the theater activity became very
difficult in conditions of existence of the show business as the
spectator is a little confused and does not understand which is the
art, which is simply lack of taste. In his words, it is of course very
difficult to confront but the company continues creating theater,
staging plays for children and grown-ups, understanding its
importance.

Numerous talented actors left the country in conditions of universal
fall of values. 18-person group of young actors today works at the
theater. They are devoted people like the previous ones, as they work
with meagre salary but with great responsibility towards the
theater. In the theater director’s words, they all are gifted and
promising actors.

RA FM INFORMED UN COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN NAKHIJEVAN

Arminfo
2007-03-15 13:14:00

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has informed the UN Committee
on Human Rights about the destruction of the Armenian monuments
in Nakhijevan.

As the RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo, coming out at the
Committee’s session in Geneva, the Minister noted a complete lack
of respect of Azerbaijan to the cultural heritage of the Armenian
people. "When the government of one country deliberately destroys
the century-old monuments of a great cultural and spiritual value,
it insults the souls of the died and thus looses the trust of those
alive", V. Oskanyan said. According to him, over 5,000 Armenian
monuments have been destroyed by Azeri authorities in the territory
of Nakhijevan within the latest several years. The purpose of this
is to wipe out the traces of the Armenian people in this territory,
the Minister added.

R. SUNY: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CAN BE NORMALIZED WITHOUT GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2007 14:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by scholars,
the general public, and even officially by governments is an important
step towards clearing the air that fouls relations between Armenians
and Turks, Armenia and Turkey, Professor of Social and Political
History of the University of Michigan Ronald Grigor Suny stated
to the PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. He said, efforts to prevent such
recognition only pollutes the atmosphere and makes progress in
improving relations more difficult. "But this does not mean that
official recognition of the Genocide by one or another government
should be a prerequisite for discussion, negotiation, or other kinds
of relationships. Armenian-Turkish relations can be normalized without
official recognition. Indeed, relations can lead to recognition rather
than the other way round," Suny noted. At the same time he thinks
that opening the Armenian-Turkish border would be a very useful first
step to improving relations between the two neighboring countries,
it would help the economies of both countries. "Trade can have
positive political and social effects. Armenia’s official position
on Turkish membership in the EU is a sound and correct one: Turkish
membership will aid democratization in Turkey and therefore improve
the situation for Armenians in Turkey and relations between Turkey and
Armenia. However, at the moment Europe is reluctant to open itself to
Turkish membership, particularly given the dismal human rights record
in Turkey, the repression of the Kurds and other non-Turkish peoples,
the murder of Hrant Dink, and the persecutions of Orhan Pamuk, Elif
Shafak, and other intellectuals. Turkish democracy and membership in
the EU go hand in hand, and as they develop, Turkish-Armenian relations
will also be affected positively," Professor Ronald Suny underscored.

FUTURE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE ACCEPTABLE FOR ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

Panorama.am
18:26 13/03/2007

Public and elit opinions on the Armenian genocide coincide in France,
Hilda Choboyan, representative of the Armenian Cause Office of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun), told reporters
today. In her words, all three candidates for the presidency of France
support the political line of condemning the Armenian genocide. They
only differ in the attitudes on the bill imposing punishment for not
recognizing the genocide.

"Although Segolen Roayal has not made any statement, it is known that
his co-party fellows have submitted the bill imposing punishment for
not recognizing the genocide," Choboyan said. She said the same refers
to Nikolia Sarkozi who is against Turkey’s membership to EU. On the
other hand, Fransua Bayrumi, who is not against condemnation of the
Armenian genocide and is against Turkey’s membership in EU, does not
think that the Senate must approve the bill imposing punishment for
refusing to recognize the Armenian genocide.

PRELATE PARTAKES IN PRESENTATION AT MONTREAL DIOCESAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 11:11

His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian
Prelacy of Canada, presented Armenian office of morning prayers
to students from the three McGill Theological colleges: Anglican,
Presbyterian, and United Church.

His Eminence Archbishop Hagopian was accompanied by Archdeacons Noubar
Krikorian and Garo Telfayan of the Sourp Hagop Armenian Cathedral.

The students from McGill’s three Theological Colleges also had the
opportunity of viewing a slide show similar to the one presented by
the Prelacy at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Cathedral by Very Reverend
Walter Raymond OGS of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in
Quebec City about his experiences during an Ecumenical Pilgrimage
among the Armenian Orthodox of the Middle East.

The service was concluded by the Anglican Church Theological College
Dean, Rev. Canon John Simons, who thanked His Eminence for his time
and willingness to take part in the event.

NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL DENOUNCES USA’S ARMENIAN BILL

Anatolia News Agency, Armenia
March 12 2007

ANKARA (A.A) -12.03.2007 -Chairman of the Turkish group at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly Vahit Erdem denounced Monday an Armenian bill
submitted to the US House of Representatives, saying that it lacked
any legal and scientific base.

"Genocide allegations devised by the Armenian propaganda is being
used as a political leverage against Turkey," Erdem said in a written
statement.

"The draft bill submitted to the House of Representatives fails
to recount how the incidents of 1915 erupted or the killings of the
Muslim people at the hands of Armenian gangs," Erdem added, qualifying
the bill as one-sided.

Erdem also said that Turkey was exerting intense efforts to end what
he called "the wrong course of affairs."

"Republic of Turkey will never consent to this injustice," he said.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 9 2007

Perincek: ‘I have not denied genocide because there was no genocide’

Friday , 09 March 2007

A Swiss court has convicted Turkish Labour Party leader Dogu Perincek
for rejecting the Armenian claims.

Marxist leader Dogu Perincek, 65, was on trial for remarks he made in
a public speech in Lausanne in 2005. He was given a suspended
sentence and fined $2,450 (£1,270).

The Swiss parliament has labelled the 1915 killings as genocide,
however it ignored that more than 520.000 Turkish villagers were
massacred by the Armenian nationalists. Turkey firmly rejects the
genocide allegation.

Perincek, the head of the Turkish Labour Party, had denied the
charges.

"I have not denied genocide because there was no genocide," he told
the court earlier this week.

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a so-called
genocide by the Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through
systematic massacres or through starvation. However the Ottoman
documents show that the Armenian population at that time was less
than 1.5 million.

Turkey says there was no genocide. It acknowledges that many
Armenians died, but says the figure was below 400,000.

Twelve Turks prosecuted in Switzerland on similar charges in 2001
were acquitted.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
March 9, 2007 Friday 08:10 AM EST

Armenia criticises US report on human rights

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan believes that the chapter
of the annual report of the U.S. Department of State on the human
rights situation in the world, which deals with the situation in
Armenia, “contains some factual mistakes and biased approaches to
some problems.” He said so at a press conference here on Friday.

According to Oskanyan, the Armenian Foreign Ministry is closely
analysing the report, comparing its evaluation of the situation in
Armenia with the opinion of some neighbouring and other countries.

The annual report of the U.S. Department of State on the human rights
situation in the world, which was published on Tuesday, said that the
index of the protection of human rights by the Armenian authorities
continued to be low in 2006.

The document said that the republican authorities had put
restrictions on the private life of people, on the freedom of the
mass media and of the population.

In the opinion of the Department of State, there were serious
violations at the referendum on amendments on the Armenian
Constitutions in 2005 and at the 2003 parliamentary elections, and
the voting did not meet international standards.

At the same time, Oskanyan said the chapter dealing with Armenia
“contains both the recognition of the improvement of the situation
in a number of spheres, and serious, well-grounded criticism.” He
stressed that Yerevan would certainly call the attention of the U.S.
authorities to the above-mentioned “factual mistakes and biased
approaches.”