Author: Khondkarian Raffi

ALIYEV IN WASHINGTON: AN IMPORTANT TEST FOR DEMOCRACY
Christopher Walker
A EurasiaNet Commentary
EurasiaNet, NY
April 27 2006
The rubber hits the road for President George W. Bush’s “Freedom
Agenda,” when he meets with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan at
the White House on April 28. Aliyev sits atop a tightly controlled
system known for its denial of political or economic freedom to those
who aren’t members of the tiny and insular ruling elite.
The agenda for the meeting between the two presidents is likely to
focus on major geopolitical issues now making headlines, including
Iran’s nuclear program, energy security and the global campaign
against terrorism.
While these issues unquestionably deserve high billing, President
Bush should also emphasize Azerbaijan’s lagging performance on
democratic reform. Letting the country’s leadership off the hook for
its resistance to democratization would be a strategic mistake.
Encouraging democratic reforms in Azerbaijan not only would serve
the long-term interests of the West, it would benefit all Azerbaijani
citizens.
Azerbaijan is a Muslim country of roughly 8 million located in the
pivotal trans-Caucasus region. To the east is the Caspian Sea, key to
the region’s energy riches and a pathway to Central Asia. To the north
lies Russia. To the south, Iran. To round out this tough neighborhood,
the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Armenia are to Azerbaijan’s
west. Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Azerbaijan and Armenia remain
embroiled in a territorial dispute, is one of the world’s most bitter
“frozen” conflicts. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Azerbaijan’s oil wealth, poised to balloon in the coming years,
adds another wrinkle. Oil and gas accounted for less than 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s industrial output a decade and a half ago. Today,
it represents more than 60 percent, as well as more than half of
Azerbaijan’s budget revenue – figures that are both rising.
For countries with sound and independent institutions, such resources
can benefit wider society. In a country where more than 40 percent
of the population now lives below the poverty line, well managed oil
proceeds could help lift Azerbaijan to a level of prosperity unique
to the region. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
In Azerbaijan’s case, however, economic experts worry that the oil
wealth will fuel even more rapacious corruption among the ruling elite,
rather than genuine reform of the country’s closed, Soviet-oriented
institutions. The government is now setting in motion a host of large
scale infrastructure projects underwritten by oil proceeds, projects
that on their face seem sensible enough. However, given the country’s
rampant corruption and weak institutions, there is a great danger
that much of this money will find its way into the corrupt patronage
networks that steer the country’s economic and political activity.
A report issued in December 2005 by the Caspian Development Advisory
Panel, a body established by British Petroleum to study the impact
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project, said that “in the longer
term, development of the rule of law, transparency and good governance,
including full participation by the public, will be prerequisites
if Azerbaijan is to manage effectively its substantial oil and gas
wealth and avoid the ‘oil curse’.” Right now, given the state of its
institutions, odds are that Azerbaijan will not escape this oil curse.
Azerbaijan’s parliament is little more than a rubber stamp body. The
judiciary likewise is beholden to the executive. The country’s
television media is tightly controlled by President Aliyev’s family
and senior officials. Given the suffocating grip on the news media,
average Azerbaijanis essentially operate in the dark on public policy
issues. Parliamentary elections last November were rife with abuses,
including intimidation of opposition candidates and serious flaws in
vote counting.
Meanwhile, reformers in Azerbaijan are deflated, first due to the weak
Western response to the marred parliamentary elections in November and
now by the invitation of President Aliyev to the White House, which is
seen as an endorsement of the Azerbaijani leader’s repressive policies.
Azeri reformers are not naìve. They do not expect the United States to
ignore its own national security and energy interests. One Baku-based
reformer who has spent time in the West told me in early April:
“we recognize that the US has other interests in our country.
But we want a consistent message to our regime on the need for
democratic reform and a basic adherence to human rights standards –
which has been missing.”
Reformers see neither political will from their own leaders, nor
sufficiently strong commitment from the United States or European
Union to push the country’s authoritarian management style in a more
open direction. Therefore, the meeting between presidents Bush and
Aliyev is a golden opportunity for the United States to send a message
to Azerbaijan’s leadership – that the US is committed to democracy
there, too.
The important issues on which the West needs the cooperation of
Azerbaijan should not crowd out the development of accountable
institutions, as well as the emergence of greater political and
economic pluralism. A democratic Azerbaijan will still have oil,
and will be a more reliable partner to the West.
Editor’s Note: Christopher Walker is Director of Studies at Freedom
House. He is author of the Azerbaijan report in Freedom House’s
forthcoming survey of governance, “Countries at the Crossroads.” He
recently returned from a working visit to Azerbaijan.
–Boundary_(ID_aZHeP9Ksr7h0ItixL8gYWw )–

PROPOSITION DE LOI UMP POUR PUNIR LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Agence France Presse
25 avril 2006 mardi 6:28 PM GMT
Eric Raoult, depute-maire UMP du Raincy (Seine-Saint-Denis), a indique
mardi par un communique qu’il venait de deposer une proposition de
loi visant a penaliser la negation du genocide armenien.
“Les recents evenements survenus a Lyon, a l’occasion de l’edification
d’un monument a la memoire du Premier genocide du XXème siècle, et les
polemiques qui s’en sont suivies, comme les declarations frequentes du
gouvernement turc, ne peuvent laisser l’opinion, comme le legislateur,
indifferents”, a affirme M. Raoult.
Il propose “d’etablir des poursuites, dont les peines s’inspirent
de la loi Gayssot, et du negationnisme de la Shoah”, soit “un an
d’emprisonnement et 45.000 euros d’amende”.
Le groupe socialiste a l’Assemblee nationale propose lui aussi une
loi sanctionnant la negation du genocide armenien, qui sera debattue
lors de la seance d’initiative parlementaire le 18 mai.
La France a reconnu officiellement ce genocide dans une loi du 29
janvier 2001.
Les Armeniens affirment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri
dans un genocide orchestre par l’empire ottoman (1915-1917).
Le 18 avril, cinq des 36 stèles d’une monument a la memoire du genocide
armenien, a Lyon, ont ete profanees. Comme lors d’une manifestation
pro-turque un mois plus tôt, des slogans negationnistes ont ete
releves.
–Boundary_(ID_7O0NIcf0JT69g3HS11lzr A)–

KOCHARIAN NOT TO VISIT WASHINGTON
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 25 2006
Yerevan, April 25. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan is not
expected to pay a visit to Washington, Hamlet Gasparyan, Press
Secretary of the RA Foreign Office, told ARKA, commenting on a report
by the Turkish newspaper “Zaman”, which referred to RA Deputy Foreign
Minister Arman Kirakosyan.
“The conclusion made from Arman Kirakosyan’s statement is the result
of mistranslation,” he said.
During his interview with the “Zaman” correspondent, Robert Kocharyan
was not speaking of a planned visit to Washington after his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilkham Aliyev’s visit to the USA, but of a possibility
of such a visit in the context of very good relations with the USA,
Kirakosyan said.

TURKEY CRITICIZES CANADA’S PM HARPER
Edmonton Sun, Canada
April 25 2006
PM backs recognition of Armenian genocide
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey on Tuesday criticized Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper for remarks he made in support of recognizing the
mass killings of Armenians during the First World War as genocide,
and warned that such statements threatened to harm Turkish-Canadian
relations.
In a statement on April 21, Harper recalled that Canada’s Senate and
House of Commons had adopted resolutions recognizing the killings as
genocide and said, “I and my party supported those resolutions and
continue to recognize them today.”
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement saying it
“regretted” Harper’s remarks over the killings that occurred more
than eight decades ago.
“Statements concerning disputed historic events by foreign parliaments
or governments nearly a century later will not change the nature of
what happened in reality,” the statement said.
“Such statements do not contribute to the environment of
dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, and have a negative effect on
Turkish-Canadian relations,” it added. “The stagnation of relations
between the two countries after the Canadian Parliament’s decision
is the clearest example of this.”
Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported Tuesday that Turkey would bar
Canadian companies from bidding for the construction of a nuclear
power plant that Turkey hopes to build in the Black Sea coastal town
of Sinop.
In 2001, Turkey cancelled millions of dollars’ worth of defence
deals with French companies after legislators in France recognized
the genocide.
Armenians say some 1.5 million of their people were killed as the
Ottoman Empire forced them from eastern Turkey between 1915 and 1923
in a deliberate campaign of genocide.
Turkey denies it was genocide, saying the death count is inflated
and insisting that Armenians were killed or displaced as the Ottoman
Empire tried to secure its border with Russia and stop attacks by
Armenian militants.
Several other countries, including Argentina, Poland, France and
Russia, have declared the killings a genocide, and there is strong
pressure from Armenians worldwide for the U.S. Congress to recognize
the killings as genocide as well.

FRENCH MEDIA COVER THE TOPIC OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 16:10
The French media turned today to the topic of the Armenian Genocide. A
number of articles were published particularly in the popular “Figaro”
daily. The newspaper turned to the legislative initiative to execute
sanctions against Genocide deniers.
It was noted that the French Parliament is going to discuss the
legislative initiative of Socialist MP Didie Migo on May 18. This
project will be the continuation of the Law on the Armenian Genocide
adopted by the French Parliament in 2001.
“Figaro” notes that according to the project, the punishment for
Genocide deniers will range from five years of imprisonment to a
charge of 45 thousand Euros.
The newspaper referred also to the memorials to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide raised in Lyon and Marseilles.

Armenia does not plan to join NATO, president says
AP Worldstream; Apr 22, 2006
Armenia does not plan to join NATO, the former Soviet republic’s
president said in comments published Saturday, adding that close
military ties with Russia and other regional countries provide
sufficient security.
Armenia is broadening its cooperation with NATO under an alliance
partnership program, the newspaper Voice of Armenia quoted President
Robert Kocharian as saying. “However, Armenia does not intend to join
NATO,” he said.
“Participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the
high level of military-technical cooperation with Russia resolve the
question of the provision of security for our country to a sufficient
degree,” Kocharian added, according to the newspaper.
The Collective Security Treaty links Armenia with Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Kocharian was responding to a question about statements attributed to
the Caucasus Mountain nation’s parliament speaker, Artur Bagdasarian,
who reportedly told a German newspaper that Armenia’s future lies
with the European Union and NATO and that Russia should not block
its Westward path.
Armenia is Russia’s chief ally in the poor, strategic located
Caucasus Mountain region and hosts a Russian military base.
Neighboring Georgia, which is seeking to shed Moscow’s influence
and turn Westward, reached an agreement last year obliging Russia to
withdraw its two military bases from the country by the end of 2008.

Troops in disputed Caucasus enclave complete week of military exercises
AP Worldstream; Apr 20, 2006
Ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh wrapped up a week of
military exercises on Thursday in the disputed enclave’s annual
show of force toward Azerbaijan, which lost control of the enclave
following a war in the early 1990s.
About 1,500 soldiers took part in the exercises, which centered mainly
around the central Agdam region, about 375 kilometers (230 miles)
west of the Azerbaijani capital Baku, near the so-called line of
control that separates ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
The drills, which included forces repelling attacks by mock enemy
forces, were observed by the defense minister and chief of general
staff from Armenia, which has long provided military and economic
support for its brethren in the enclave.
Lt. Gen. Seigan Oganyan, commander of the enclave’s forces, made
clear to reporters that the training was intended to be a signal
to Azerbaijan.
“In the event of any demonstration of aggression by Azerbaijan, the
defense army of Nagorno-Karabakh will answer with adequate measures,”
Oganyan said.
Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but is populated mostly by
ethnic Armenians. Clashes regularly break out between the two sides
and Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliev have traded increasingly bellicose statements since talks
to resolve the enclave’s status broke down in February.
At least 30,000 people have been killed and 1 million made refugees
during six years of open conflict that ended with a cease fire in 1994.
The lack of final resolution over the enclave’s status has long tied
up investment in the strategic, oil-rich Caucasus region.

LIBRARIAN ACCUSED OF ‘SEXUAL HARASSMENT’ AFTER RECOMMENDING ‘MARKETING OF EVIL’
The Nutty Professors
WorldNetDaily.com ily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49809
Wednesda y, April 19, 2006
Book-banning ‘gay’ profs forced to drop allegations
After the entire faculty voted, with no dissenters, to brand their head
librarian as a sexual harasser because he recommended the bestselling
book “The Marketing of Evil” as required reading for freshmen, Ohio
State University has finally dropped its controversial charges in
the glare of national media attention.
But, warns the librarian’s attorney, who calls this one of the most
“astonishing” and “shameful” instances of campus persecution he’s
ever seen, the damage to his client’s reputation and career has been
done. They’ve already filed a complaint against three professors
for false accusations of harassment and are discussing a more
“substantial” response – including possible litigation – to “deter
any future tyranny or bullying of others.”
As WND first reported, Scott Savage, a devout Quaker, is head of
Reference and Instructional Services at the Bromfield Library on Ohio
State University’s Mansfield campus. As a member of the university’s
First Year Reading Experience Committee, Savage had suggested four
books be considered as required reading for incoming freshmen:
“The Marketing of Evil” by David Kupelian, “The Professors” by David
Horowitz, “Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis” by Bat Ye’or, and “It Takes
a Family” by Sen. Rick Santorum. Savage made the recommendations
after other committee members had suggested a series of books with
a left-wing perspective, by authors such as Jimmy Carter and Maria
Shriver.
However, three professors – two of them openly homosexual – filed
a complaint of discrimination and harassment, contending Kupelian’s
book was “hate literature” which “threatened” them and made them feel
“unsafe” on campus. After a 21-0 faculty vote (with 9 abstentions)
on March 13, the school’s Office of Human Resources put Savage under
“investigation.” The full-faculty vote was rescinded two days later
for legal reasons, and the three offended professors filed the
harassment complaint.
The professors who filed the complaint against Savage are Hannibal
Hamlin, Norman Jones and J.K. Buckley. Jones teaches courses in
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender literature, and according to
his bio, “his current research focuses on sexuality and spirituality,
particularly exploring the phenomenon of the ‘post-secular queer’
in contemporary literature.” Buckley has written “The Social Critic:
The Rise of Queer Performance Within the Demise of Transcendentalism”
as well as “articles on sexual orientation in Hemingway and Melville.”
Stepping up to defend Savage has been the Arizona-based public-interest
law firm, the Alliance Defense Fund, which on March 28 filed a “Cease
and Desist” letter to OSU Mansfield officials.
Undeterred, the university pressed on in its “investigation” of Savage,
insisting it takes “any allegation of sexual harassment seriously.”
The ADF filing linked above includes, as evidentiary exhibits,
the condemnations of Savage and Kupelian made by OSU professors in
intra-faculty e-mails March 9. The professors’ comments include:
Hannibal Hamlin: “Re Kupelian’s book, would you advocate a book
that was racist or antisemitic, or are you arguing that homosexuals
are not in the same category and that homophobia is not therefore a
matter of discrimination but of rational argument? And what are we
supposed to make of the fact that Kupelian’s Armenian family died
in the holocaust? Does this mean that he then has the right to spout
bigotry about other minorities with impunity?”
Norman Jones: “The anti-gay book Scott Savage endorses falsely claims
that ‘the widely revered father of the “sexual revolution” has been
irrefutably exposed as a full-fledged sexual psychopath who encouraged
pedophilia.’ This is a factually untrue characterization of Dr. Kinsey
and his work on every point. … I am frankly embarrassed for you,
Scott, that you would endorse this kind of homophobic tripe.”
J.K. Buckley: “As a gay man I have long ago realized that the world
is full of homophobic, hate-mongers who, of course, say that they
are not. So I am not shocked, only deeply saddened – and THREATENED –
that such mindless folks are on this great campus. … You have made
me fearful and uneasy being a gay man on this campus. I am, in fact,
notifying the OSU-M campus, and Ohio State University in general,
that I no longer feel safe doing my job. I am being harassed.”
Finally, since WorldNetDaily, Sean Hannity, MSNBC, Fox News’ Brit Hume
and dozens of bloggers and talk show hosts have brought the case to
national attention over the last few days, Ohio State University has
reportedly reversed course. That is, the Mansfield campus’s dean and
director, Evelyn B. Freeman, has now notified the faculty that the
charges have been dropped, although – strangely – neither Savage nor
his ADF attorneys have been notified of that fact.
Here’s the e-mail the faculty received from Freeman:
Dear Faculty and Staff,
The Ohio State University is strongly committed to the free, open,
and civil exchange of views as part of the educational process. To
prepare our students for success, we must have an atmosphere where
students, staff and faculty are free to express opinions and where
different points of view are not only tolerated, but welcomed. I want
to affirm President Holbrook’s April 5 message to the campus community:
“Ohio State is a caring community that rejects racism, homophobia,
gender-bias, religious intolerance and other forms of prejudice,
exclusion, and disrespect.”
It is unfortunate that conflicting viewpoints on the Mansfield campus
escalated to charges of harassment.
After a thorough investigation of complaints raised by faculty members
against a reference librarian, the University has determined that
there were no findings of harassment. However, the news media has
now picked up on this incident and you will likely be seeing some
coverage in the state and national news.
I hope we can all learn from this incident. We recognize that in the
course of robust intellectual debate in and out of the classroom,
there exists the potential for conflict. But we have to handle that
conflict responsibly and with collegiality. We will be taking a number
of steps to help create a more welcoming atmosphere on the Mansfield
campus by offering additional training for faculty and staff. We also
will work to reinforce a better understanding of the principles of
academic rights and responsibilities, and to ensure the respect for
diversity of all kinds.
Sincerely,
Evie
Evelyn B. Freeman, Dean and Director The Ohio State University at
Mansfield
So is the case over?
Not by a long shot, says David French, Savage’s attorney and director
of ADF’s Center for Academic Freedom, who says the librarian is
carefully “weighing his options.”
“Scott’s exploring litigation – he has already filed an internal
complaint accusing the professors of a false allegation of
harassment. But he is definitely exploring possibilities of
litigation,” said the ADF attorney.
“While we’re glad there was no finding of harassment – that’s merely
common sense on the part of the university – we’re upset there hasn’t
been a direct communication of that fact to Scott or his attorneys.”
Much more importantly, said French, “the damage has been done” to
Scott’s career and reputation. “Ohio State University allowed its
resources to be used in a campaign of slander and defamation.” Saying
Savage “wants to do something substantial to deter any future tyranny
or bullying of others,” French concluded: “We’re certainly glad Scott
has been exonerated, but by no means is this over.”
One consequence of the case, surely unintended by the professors
condemning Kupelian’s book as “homophobic tripe” and “hate literature,”
is that “The Marketing of Evil” has shot up the nation’s bestsellers
lists, where it currently is ranked No. 1 on Amazon.com’s “Current
Events” bestseller chart.
The reason for the massive interest in Kupelian’s book? The following
letter, one of many sent in response to the column about the case by
Rebecca Hagelin, tells the story.
I hope you can forward the information to the faculty of OSU-M
that I, for one, had not yet heard of the book, “The Marketing of
Evil.” But because of their hysteria and hypocritical intolerance, I
have decided that it is something I should definitely read. I intend
to buy a copy, and perhaps an extra to pass. In spite of themselves,
these would-be thought controllers are serving as a beacon of light,
showing the way to valuable literature!
Released in August, “The Marketing of Evil” has become one of the
nation’s most talked-about books, widely praised by Dr. Laura,
David Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, D. James Kennedy and many others
and garnering over 100 five-star reader reviews on Amazon.com.
In one final irony: “The Marketing of Evil” is readily available in
the Ohio State University bookstore.
____________
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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 18, 2006
___________________
IN CEREMONY REMEMBERING LAST SUPPER, ARCHBISHOP HUMBLY KNEES BEFORE YOUNG
ARMENIANS
By Jake Goshert
One by one the young men and little boys stepped forward, sitting before
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian as he knelt over a bowl of blessed water. The
Primate took each boy’s feet into his hands, washing it before anointing it
with oil. The boys then kissed his ring reverently, before returning to
their place by the altar of New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral.
On Thursday, April 13, 2006, as part of this year’s Holy Thursday
celebrations, the Primate re-enacted the Last Supper, where Jesus washed the
feet of his 12 disciples in a gesture of humility and love.
This year, to mark the 1,600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian
alphabet, the 12 people representing the disciples at the cathedral were
young men and boys from Armenian Schools at the St. Vartan Cathedral and
from the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish in Brooklyn, NY.
“It was important for me to participate, because it is a very personal honor
to be up there,” said Armen Bandikian, 15, who serves on the cathedral
altar. “This service shows the importance of the church, and the importance
of Christ and Christianity as well.”
The group of twelve boys included four from the growing St. Gregory the
Illuminator Mission Parish in Brooklyn, NY. That community is made up of
recent Armenian immigrant families.
“Having our young people participate was such a big event and a big honor,”
said Svetlana Amerkhanian, parish council chairman of St. Gregory. “More
than that, the children participating brought up a lot of questions and we
gave a lot of answers about what this is about.”
For one young Brooklyn parishioner, Erik Bazian, participating in the
ceremony was a way to honor a connection to past generations of Christians.
“We still practice Christianity today the way they have for generations. We
did the same thing tonight,” he said.
Participating in this year’s “Washing of the Feet” ceremony at New York
City’s St. Vartan Cathedral were: William Babikian, Arthur Bagdasarian,
Armen Bandikian, Erik Bazian, Narek Bazian, Arsen Danilyan, Tavit Jlanjian,
Harry Petropoulos, Krikor Torossian, Vartan Torossian, Armen Shamamian, Avik
Shamamian
— 4/18/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, washes the feet of
David Ilanjian, 4, during Holy Thursday’s “Washing of the Feet” ceremony at
New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on April 13, 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Twelve young men and boys join the Primate at the altar
of New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral during the “Washing of the Feet”
ceremony on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2006.
# # #

INJUSTICE VERDICT AGAINST RAMIL SAFAROV CAUSED STUDENTS’ MARCH-RALLY IN HUSEYN JAVID AVENUE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 17 2006
Students have protested against injustice verdict of Budapest city
Court against Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov with march-rally in
Huseyn Javid Avenue. Baku (APA)
Students marching in the direction of Azizbayov monument were prevented
by Yasamal region Police office associates and led them to “Elmler
Academiyasi” metro station. Students sounded mottoes “Freedom to Ramil
Safarov”, “We should defend our officer”, “Losing Ramil Safarov we lose
Garabagh” and etc. This effort was silenced by the police. About 50
people were moved from the territory, some of them was taken to Yasamal
Region Police Office by bus. During the confrontation one person was
injured. Intending to the action holders Garabagh Liberty Organization
(GLO) chairman Akif Naghi was taken to Yasamal region police office
being detained. After that, about thousands of students made effort
to continue protest action in front of “Elmler Akademiyasi” station,
the action was prevented with interference of police. GLO members
and chairman of the organization Akif Naghi were set free after being
seriously warned. Though part of students detained by the police were
released, but some of them are detained in 26th police department.