Assa-Irada. Azerbaijan
May 11 2005
Azeri, Armenian presidents not to sign accord in Warsaw
Baku, May 10, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents will not sign an agreement at a
meeting due in Warsaw as part of the Council of Europe summit October
16-17.
The two countries’ foreign ministers will receive relevant
instructions based on the results of the meeting, Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters on Tuesday.*
Pan Armenian News
LIZ GRANDE: «PITY I AM LEAVING ARMENIA»
10.05.2005 04:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Speaker Artur Baghdasarian met with Lise
Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia completing her
mission in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the National Assembly of
Armenia. Having thanked L. Grande for the work done and wishing her good
luck in further activities, Artur Baghdasarian noted that the UN Office in
Yerevan was efficient under her direction. In her turn Lise Grande noted
evident progress in Armenia, within the past two years the role of the
Parliament in solving public problems increased. After Armenia Lise Grande
will go to Congo and she said «it is a pity I am leaving Armenia.» She said
she was sure that she will keep the ties with Armenian friends and her
successor will continue the cooperation and implementation of joint programs
with the Armenian Parliament. In the course of the meeting the parties noted
the importance of programs targeted at the vulnerable social strata –
disabled persons and refugees. The interlocutors specially emphasized the
realization of programs aimed at meeting the needs of the population of
Armenia’s regions, whose problems were many times raised at the National
Assembly. Artur Baghdasarian and Lise Grande noted that this work should be
continued.
ARKA News Agency
May 9 2005
Karlos Papulos invites Armenian President o visit Greece
Armenian, Moldavian Presidents discuss CIS reforms
RA National Assembly Speaker: Heroic victory our grandfathers and
fathers won 60 years ago paved way for existence of independent
Armenia today
Armenian President congratulates country citizens on 60th anniversary
in Great Patriotic War
Our fathers’ achievements in Great Patriotic War basis for victories
in liberation struggle: Armenian PM
NKR State Commission on War Prisoners and Missing hands over three
Azeri servicemen to Azeri side
Russian Embassy in Armenia presents jubilee medals on 60th
Anniversary of Victory in WWII to veterans of Great Patriotic War
*********************************************************************
KARLOS PAPULOS INVITES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT O VISIT GREECE
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. President of Greece Karlos Papulos has
invited Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to visit Greece. The RA
presidential press service reports that during their meeting in
Moscow the sides expressed their satisfaction over the bilateral
relations and stressed their willingness for further development.
P.T. -0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN, MOLDAVIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS CIS REFORMS
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan held a meeting
in Moscow with Moldavian President Vladimir Voronin. The RA
presidential press service reports that the sides discussed a wide
range of issues of bilateral relations. The sides also discussed CIS
reforms and prospects. P.T. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER: HEROIC VICTORY OUR GRANDFATHERS AND
FATHERS WON 60 YEARS AGO PAVED WAY FOR EXISTENCE OF INDEPENDENT
ARMENIA TODAY
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan congratulated Armenian people Monday on the Day of
Victory. According to national Assembly’s Public Relations
Department, the message says that “anti-Hitler coalition’s victory
over Nazi Germany in 1945 opened a new chapter in Europe and the
world history”. Heroic victory our grandfathers and fathers won 60
years ago paved the way for existence of independent Republic of
Armenia today, the message says. The Speaker noted that may always
was a month of historic victories for Armenian people. As an example
of those victories, Baghdasaryan also single out Shushi liberation.
Today, bowing to the war victims, we ought to take care of all those,
who are along with us today after going through the war. The Speaker
congratulated Great Patriotic War veterans and Artsakh War heroes and
wished them sound health and happiness. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES COUNTRY CITIZENS ON 60TH ANNIVERSARY
IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan addressed
Armenian citizens Monday congratulating them on 60th anniversary of
victory in Great Patriotic War, Armenian Presidential Press Service
reports. “We celebrate glorious jubilee – 60th anniversary of Great
Patriotic War. This victory and peace laid ground for Armenia’s
further development”, the message says. Armenians set excellent
examples of courage and braveness and also make their contribution to
allies’ troops, guerillas groups and resistance movement in home
front. “My special cordial congratulations to our veterans that have
stood the cruel ordeal and defended the country from Nazi disaster”,
the President said in his message.
Kocharyan also pointed out that in 1992, Shushi liberation joined to
Armenian historic May victories. “In that war imposed on our people,
we proved once against that we always are ready to defend our people
right for peaceful life”, the President said in his message as well
as wished Armenian people peace and noted that “our devotion to our
motherland will be shown in creative labor focused on a new
generation upbringing and a new country building”. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
OUR FATHERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR BASIS FOR VICTORIES
IN LIBERATION STRUGGLE: ARMENIAN PM
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. Our fathers’ achievements in the Great
Patriotic War served as a basis for victories in the liberation
struggle in Artsakh, RA Premier Andranik Margaryan told reporters.
According him, the Armenian authorities are equally dealing with the
problems of veterans of both the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh war,
making new steps to resolve them. Speaking of the two dates being
marked in Armenia today – the 60th anniversary of Victory in the
Great Patriotic War and the 13th anniversary of liberation of Shushi
– the RA Premier pointed out that “in 1941-1945 the task of
self-preservation was being accomplished, while in 1992 a step was
made to the realization of our hopes.”
In his turn, RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan pointed out that
any family was affected by the cruel war in the soviet Union.
According to him, it is no coincidence that 60 year later people pay
tribute to those that sacrificed their lives for victory. Pointing
out that Armenia is marking two holidays today, Sargsyan stressed
that “the joy and pride of today are mixed with a bitterness in
memory of the perished companions-in-arms.”
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that today we express our
gratitude to the people that sacrificed their lives in battling
fascism to resolve the problem of our existence, and by their
liberation of Shushi and consolidation of nationhood in the period of
independence, they opened a new page in the Armenian people’s
liberation struggle. P.T. -0–
*********************************************************************
NKR STATE COMMISSION ON WAR PRISONERS AND MISSING HANDS OVER THREE
AZERI SERVICEMEN TO AZERI SIDE
STEPANAKERT, May 9. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s State
Commission on War Prisoners and Missing handed over three Azeri
servicemen – Hayal Abdulaev, Hikmet Tagiev and Ruslan Bakiev -to
Azerbaijani side on Saturday at 14:25. The handover took place at
Agdam section of contact line between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azeri
armed forces. According to the Commission report the servicemen were
taken in custody on February 15, 2005, at north-eastern territory of
NKR while attempting to cross the demarcation line. Observing its
international commitments, Karabakh side informed OSCE and ICRC
offices in Nagorno Karabakh.
The handover of Azeri servicemen made in accordance with NKR
authorities’ decision with mediation of ICRC and OSCE Chair-in-Office
Personal Representative after proper accord with Azeri side was
reached.
ICRC representatives regularly visited the war prisoners throughout
the period they were kept in captivity. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA PRESENTS JUBILEE MEDALS ON 60TH
ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN WWII TO VETERANS OF GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. Russian Embassy in Armenia presented jubilee
medals on 60th Anniversary of Victory in WWII to veterans of Great
Patriotic War, citizens of RF. Acting Charge’ d’Affaires of Russia in
RA Igor Gromiko read out the address of RF President Vladimir Putin.
The message said `wherever you are, wherever you celebrate this
holiday, it remains in the heats of every one of us’. `You have
undergone many severe trials; you have stood up for the people’s
right for freedom, thus freed the country and the world from Nazism.
We pay our tribute to your feat. However, the lessons of war teach us
to join efforts in common fight against contemporary threats. Only
together we can withstand terrorism and other today’s challenges’,
says the address of the Russian President. L.V.-0–
MOSNEWS, Russia
May 9 2005
Russia, Ukraine Argue About Future of CIS
MosNews
Russian President Vladimir Putin at an informal summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States on Sunday urged the leaders of the
12-member club of ex-Soviet states to preserve the troubled
organization, as Ukraine’s Viktor Yushchenko said there was little
use for the CIS without major reform, Associated Press reported.
At a summit held the day before commemorations of the 60th
anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, Putin said the grouping of
ex-Soviet republics had a key role in combating the spread of
terrorism, extremism and xenophobia and fostering peace.
`For all of us it is obvious that Nazism, extremism and terrorism are
threats feeding on a single ideological source, a terrible threat,
against which we are obliged to defend our unique and peaceful
commonwealth,’ Putin said referring to a U.N. call, adding that the
CIS could help with such work.
The meeting convened amid growing questions about the viability of
the CIS, which brings reformist leaders together with entrenched
Soviet-era dictators following the popular uprisings against regimes
in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said after the summit there was
`little use’ at present for the CIS but its members still needed an
organization that would focus on economic integration and avoid
interfering in the politics of its members.
Putin himself in March questioned the body’s usefulness, saying it
had been created for a `civilized divorce’ of Soviet republics,
unlike the European Union, which worked to pull its members closer
together.
In a reflection of the disputes between the member countries, two of
the leaders, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliev, did not attend.
Saakashvili is also staying away from Monday’s Victory in Europe Day
celebration in Moscow, because Georgia failed to win agreement last
week on the removal of Russian bases it regards as a legacy of
Moscow’s imperial domination.
Aliev was boycotting because of the attendance of Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, and because Sunday is a day of mourning, marking a
key battle during the six-year war between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The CIS was born out of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, and
its advocates hoped it would foster closer integration between the
newly independent countries. Many of its initiatives have foundered,
however, including plans to remove trade barriers that have dominated
the CIS agenda since its creation – and it has long been criticized
for being little more than a talking shop.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Ninety years post Ottoman Turkish Genocide of the Armenians:
Lessons learned and challenges to overcome
PRESS RELEASE
New York: AASSSG
185 E 85th Street,
NY NY 10028
Phone: 201 941-2266
E-mail: [email protected]
The Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress & Genocide
(AASSSG) presented a symposium commemorating the 90th Anniversary of
the Genocide of the Armenians. Dr. Kalayjian, President of AASSSG,
organized and chaired this symposium.
The keynote speaker was Professor Roger Smith, who received the
AASSSG 2005 Outstanding Achievement Award. This award is given to
those scholars who excel in the area of Genocide studies, research
and publication. Professor Smith is Professor Emeritus at the College
of William and Mary in Virginia.
Prof. Smith stated how hard it was to focus on the topic of lessons
from the Armenian Genocide and remaining challenges to overcome. He
then discussed the following issues: knowledge acquired from the
Genocide, the shape of memory, denial, and the possibilities of
reconciliation.
KNOWLEDGE: The Armenian Genocide was the first large scale genocide
in the 20th century. It should have been a warning to what could lay
in store later in the century: it showed that human beings were fully
capable of systematic destruction of other humans, that genocide was an
ever present possibility. But this was largely forgotten. The Holocaust
took place, but this was viewed as an aberration and allowed to drop
from sight until the 1960s. Subsequently it was held out as the model
of all genocide, but this was misleading. Rather the Armenian case
was the prototype for most genocides since 1945: nationalism, a simple
technology of destruction, and targeting of victims within more or less
given territories, as opposed to any global attempt to annihilate them.
The Armenian Genocide helps us to understand many of the conditions for
such acts and particularly the relations between war and genocide. It
also teaches some negative lessons: threats of intervention that are
not carried out may be worse than silence (Bosnia, Darfur).
SHAPE OF MEMORY: Recollection of historical events, including massive
killing of innocents, does not follow a straight or continuous
path. The Armenian Genocide was well known at the time it took place,
by the early 1920s the erosion of memory had set in. Even survivors
were often silent (see, for example, Balakian’s BLACK DOG OF FATE). But
the pain and trauma were there. In due time, the stories would be told
within the Armenian family and community, but not much beyond it. The
trauma, plus the rage/humiliation engendered by denial would continue
down the generations. Genocide does not end with the last atrocity.
But by the 50th anniversary public commemorations took place; this
was followed by stepped up efforts by Turkey at denial; followed in
turn by greater efforts to overcome the denial.
DENIAL: The arguments of denial refuse the fact that the term
“genocide” is applicable to the events, and the significance of
the events (rationalization, relativization, and trivialization). In
recent years, there has been widespread affirmation of the Genocide by
scholars, scholarly organizations, states, international organizations
and the Pope. These affirmations are a matter of recognition, not
legislation of truth; they also offer recognition that the Turkish
government’s denial is essentially political, not historical. But
some states have aided and abetted Turkey in denial out of expediency,
rather than acceptance of Turkish arguments.
POSSIBILITY OF RECONCILATION: Reconciliation can take place at either
the individual or state level. It is difficult for an individual to
forgive or forget the Genocide. Forgiveness would require, at minimum,
acknowledgment, apology, and making amends to the extent possible. At
the state level, partial reconciliation may be possible without
acknowledgment of the Genocide (the US has good relations with Japan
though Japan refuses to acknowledge its war guilt. There are various
steps that Turkey could take: diplomatic recognition, lift embargo,
allowing Armenia access to the sea, etc. Even if these steps were
taken, without acknowledgment and acceptance of responsibility,
no full reconciliation can take place at the state level.
Turkey has much to gain from facing its own history and accepting
responsibility for it. But this will occur only when Turkey has become
a more open, democratic, and pluralistic society. That time may come,
especially with pressure from the E.U., but it is not here today.
Professor Dennis Papazian is the Director of the Armenian Research
Center at the University of Michigan in Dearborn. He pointed out
that after all, Hitler read about the Armenian Genocide in his
contemporary newspapers while he was a corporal in the German army
and his bosom friend, Max Erwin von Schubner-Richter was actually one
of the hundreds of foreign witnesses to mass killings of Armenians
during WWI and notified the German Foreign Office, allies of the
Turks, that the Turkish Government was attempting to eradicate the
Armenian population of the Empire. It is worth looking into whether
other Germans who were in Turkey during the Armenian Genocide later
became active in the Nazi Party.
Why is the Armenian Genocide the “forgotten genocide” and the
Holocaust so much in the public mind? Just think for a moment what
would it be like if all of Turkey had been occupied by the Allies and
war crime trials had been brought to a successful conclusion? The
episode would be widely followed, the chief perpetrators punished,
and restitution made to the survivors. The survivors would then urge
the world to remember their tragedy and seek to prevent such a tragedy
from happening ever again.
And just think for a moment if the Nazis had survived World War II
and there were no Nuremberg trials for the perpetrators of the Jewish
Holocaust. The Nazis, just as the Turkish government today, would
deny the Holocaust and its memory might fade into history. The Jews,
of course, would demand recognition and attempt to keep their tragedy
in the public eye, but most of the public would forget over time and
the Holocaust might be known today as the “forgotten Holocaust.”
The Turkish government has spent millions of dollars on public
relations experts attempting to eradicate from the public mind a
memory of the Armenian Genocide or at least to cast doubt in the
public mind. This attempt is made easier by the fact that few Americans
today know anything about Turkey, Turkish history, and most certainly
Turkish geography. The Turkish government does not have to disprove
the Armenian Genocide; it merely needs to cast doubt on what happened
in 1915-1923.
Their job of propaganda is made easier by the inclination of most
Americans not to think evil of anyone and always give the accused
the benefit of a doubt. Genocide is so ultimately an evil that there
are not two sides to it, and those who perpetrated it, or their legal
successor, must face the consequences of their actions. The greatest
aid to the denialists is the nice people who don’t want to take sides.
Fortunately, there are now people in Turkey who are speaking out
about the Armenian Genocide, but the more these few speak out, the
more the reactionaries make outlandish claims. At the time of this
writing, early April 2005, there seem to be indications that the
Turkish government will make some kind of simple form of confession
in the nature of, “Oh, we don’t see it as Genocide but you may call
it what you will.”
Prof. Papazian then presented the chief arguments of the Turkish
government and its supporters in denying the Armenian Genocide and
the answers.
Prof. Ann L. Saltzman is the Co-Director of the Center for
Holocaust/Genocide Study at Drew University. She spoke about her
journey from the first time she heard about the Genocide till today,
and what she has learned. The lessons were presented insightfully
and emotionally.
Prof. Saltzman said “as I look back over the programs we have
offered in memory of the Armenian genocide, I note how the series
itself traces our developing knowledge of it. Thus, for our first
program we showed the film, “The Forgotten Genocide,” and asked your
president, Anie Kalayjian, to be our discussant. We needed to start
with some basic history of what had happened. But it didn’t take long
before our programs began to “take on” one of the central issues of
the study of the Armenian genocide: the refusal to recognize it as
such. Our second program, subtitled “Art as Resistance in Countering
Genocidal Denial,” featured a slide presentation and discussion
of the art of Robert Barsamian. For me, it was the beginning of a
dawning awareness of how deep this denial went. The following year,
we invited Peter Balakian to speak, and in response to my mentioning
this to a colleague at another school, I was “jokingly” asked,
“Does Turkey know?” At this point, I knew that there was denial,
but I don’t think I truly understood how much economic, political,
and psychological energy Turkey was putting into making sure that no
country would call what had happened in 1915 a genocide. And I think
I was just beginning to understand how much psychological havoc this
denial was creating for the Armenian community. Certainly Balakian’s
book Black Dog of Fate helped me to see the parallels with the second
and third generation of Holocaust survivors. Also, his impassioned
lecture which called upon us all to “deny the denial.” Still further,
in response to last year’s showing of the film Ararat, it became
even clearer how important it is for a people’s healing to know what
happened to them in the past and to have others acknowledge it. I
began to relate this to my own un-named sorrow and terror in response
to the veiled way in which the Holocaust was discussed when I was
a child. Unless the story could be told and affirmed, the feeling
of being haunted by something I didn’t understand remained. I now
understand that about the Armenian genocide as well.
Prof. Saltzman concluded stating: “So the first thing I have learned
about the genocide is that there was a genocide. It is where one
must begin. I think my first reading about the Armenian genocide did
not actually occur until 1990 when I was preparing to teach a First
Year Seminar at Drew, entitled “Obedience to Authority: The Holocaust
and Beyond.”
I learned that there was a genocide, I learned that there are powerful
forces at work to deny that there was a genocide, and I have learned
that until the truth is told and acknowledged, that the people against
whom this genocide was committed will remain under its shadow. Still
further, only last night at Drew’s annual commemoration did I realize
that children and grandchildren of survivors and victims of the
genocide at still searching for answers to questions and information
about what happened to their relatives, some 90 years later.
A lively discussion followed. The presence of Armenians, Turks
and Americans made it very insightful, challenging and extremely
rewarding. The youth were calling for more information and more
details of the history itself. Recommendations were made to have a
smaller group focusing on education and dissemination of documents
from history.
For more information on these informational groups kindly contact Dr.
Kalayjian at: [email protected] or check
AZG Armenian Daily #082, 06/05/2005
Armenia-Turkey
‘OPENING OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDERS WILL BE A VERY POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT’
Heikki Talvitie Calls for Armenia to Be Consequent in Yerevan- Ankara
Relations
Vartan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, didn’t confirm the information that RA
President and Turkish Prime Minister are going to meet in Moscow or Warsaw.
Vartan Oskanian stated in the press conference with Talvitie that Yerevan
got no official suggestion for that and the Armenian side didn’t take such
an initiative.
Oskanian emphasized that the Turkish press began actively write about such a
meeting recently and “it’s hard to say whether that is the direct suggestion
of the Turkish authorities, or the supposition of the Turkish journalists.”
Yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister said that his meeting with Kocharian is
quite possible to take place. He added that but nothing concrete has been
decided yet. “That is possible, but we haven’t envisaged anything yet.,”
Abdullah Gul said.
Heikki Talvitie emphasized that the Armenian -Turkish relation will have
certain impact of the negotiations for Turkey’s membership to EU. He said
that the exchange of letters between Kocharian and Erdogan as an initial
stage of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue. He added that EU is ready to
contribute to development of that dialogue.
On the other hand, Talvitie said that Armenia should be consequent in its
efforts. He said that Yerevan should suggest a formula for improving the
relations with Ankara. “The opening of the Armenian-Turkish borders will be
a very positive development. I would like to call for the Armenian side to
be more consequent,” he said.
On April 10 Erdogan suggested Kocharian to create a group of historians to
study the events and the developments of the past in the archives of
Armenia, Turkey and a third country. Ra president said in reply that it
would be better to establish natural relations between the two countries.
US President and German Chancellor backed Erdogan’s proposal. What’s the
EU’s position on Erdogan’s proposal? Heikki Talvitie stated yesterday that
EU does not have a clear stance on Turkey’s proposal. On the other hand, he
says, “if the sides unify their positions, we’ll greet their decision”.
Armenian foreign minister noted that the Armenian side perfectly understands
what Turkey pursues by its proposal. Concerning Shroder’s positive
evaluation of the proposal, Oskanian said that the German Chancellor did so
only after he learnt that Bundestag discussed the Genocide issues and
recognized Germany’s responsibility in the Genocide. Oskanian recalled
Shroder saying, “a nation should have self-critical view on its history”.
Oskanian opined that “European leaders think that by the proposal of
creating a commission Turkey wants to open dark pages of its history but not
argue about Genocide’s historicity”. “European leaders take it as an attempt
to put up with history”, Oskanian said.
During his Turkey visit a few days ago, Shroder stated, “We want to see
Armenian-Turkish relations improved. Germany is ready to do everything in
its power and will open its archives before historians”. He also mentioned
that the genocide issue will never be a precondition for Turkey’s EU
accession and “no referendum in any country will stymie Turkey’s membership”
Referring to Turkish Anatolia agency, Mediamax informed that 2 separate
commissions, one comprised of historians, the other of government
representatives, may be set. Ankara considers that Russian, British and
German colleagues may well join the works of the commission.
European Union special representative for the South Caucasus met yesterday
President Robert Kocharian and NA speaker Artur Baghdasarian. They discussed
Armenia-EU relations, Nagorno Karabakh regulation and Armenia-Turkey
relations.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR VETERANS
Pan Armenian News
05.05.2005 05:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian today met with
representatives of the Council of Veterans of the Great Patriotic War,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. In the course
of the meeting R. Kocharian congratulated the veterans with the
forthcoming Victory holiday. The interlocutors discussed common state
issues as well. At that the veterans noted they see the solution to
those problems only under provided that Armenia is stable and well
protected. Upon the completion of the meeting the veterans presented
the Armenian President with a book telling about the feats of Armenian
soldiers at battle of Leningrad.
NOT ONLY THE FUTURE OF CHURCHES BUT ALSO OF GEORGIAN ARMENIANS IS IN DANGER
AZG Armenian Daily #080, 04/05/2005
Concern
The Patriarch of Georgia has found new justification for appropriating
the Armenian churches of Georgia: meeting the chairman of Armenia’s
National Assembly on April 29, Ilya II claimed that Surp Astvatsatsin
of Norashen in Tbilisi was built on the spot of a Georgian church.
“This is a disputable issue. Armenians say it is Armenians and
Georgians say it is Georgian. For that reason we suggested creating
a joint commission that will study the issue in calm atmosphere”,
His Holiness said.
In recent years, when the Georgian Orthodox Church has been
“privatizing” and consecrating Armenian churches one after another
and when the gradually weakening Armenian community makes desperate
attempts to stop it, the clergy explains: “This church was Georgian
once, the rich Armenians bought it and turned into Armenian one”.
This is in effect a new justification of Ilya II to appropriate the
Armenian churches. Theoretically, it is possible that there was
a Georgian church in the place of, say, Surp Norashen dated 15th
century. Let’s assume that there was once indeed a Georgian church
in the place of Norashen but how likely is it that all appropriated
and georginized Armenian churches took once the place of Georgian
ones. The Georgian Orthodox Church, which has sunk into medieval
fanaticism lately, prospers also in appropriating Greek and Russian
Orthodox churches.
30 Armenian churches have been handed over so far, another 9 are a
point at issue. Artur Baghdasarian emphasized the necessity to put
the issue of the 9 Armenian churches on the agenda.
Ilya II’s offer of joint commission cannot settle the dispute as
it may hold meetings for years but reach no final result. Armenian
historians will claim the Armenian identity of churches and Georgians
will state the opposite.
It’s easy to distinguish Armenian and Georgian churches outwardly,
as the latter does not have belfry. Today as well, churches that
are being built all over Georgia have no bell towers. If a Georgian
church still has a belfry, that means it was once taken over and is
either Armenian and or Greek.
Armenians have built hundreds of churches not only within the frontiers
of their historic territories but also out of them. Outsiders razed
or appropriated part of them.
The future of Georgian Armenians is largely connected with the future
of the Armenian churches. Wherever Armenians set a foot, they built
a church first of all. In “rebirthing” Georgia, appropriation of
other Armenian cultural institutions, such as schools, theatres etc,
may follow the appropriation of the churches. Without the church and
the school there may be no Armenian identity. If the Georgian state
continues its insulting, discriminatory and suspicious policy, there
will hardly remain any Armenian in the country because of emigration
or assimilation.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Soldiers Go AWOL in Akhaltsikhe
Civil Georgia (Tbilisi)
2005-05-04
News broke on May 3 that 12 servicemen abandoned their military unit
in Akhaltsikhe and went AWOL claiming they were subjected to human
rights abuse and intimidation from officers and other servicemen of
the military unit.
All of these servicemen are residents of Akhalkalaki, a town in
southern Georgia region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, which is predominately
populated by ethnic Armenians.
Rustavi 2 television interviewed several of these AWOL servicemen on
May 3. Private, with the second name Barbarian, said in an interview:
“we were beaten up [in the military unit]; we were frequently told why
we speak in Armenian and not in Georgian. But I do not know Georgian.”
Another private complained that officers were intimidating him and
demanding money.
No official comment has been made by the Georgian Defense Ministry yet.
The Georgian Public Defender’s Office has already launched probe into
the case. “I have talked with [official from] the Defense Ministry and
I think we can find some solution to this problem,” Sozar Subeliani,
the Public Defender, told Rustavi 2 television on May 3.
Civil.Ge (UNAG online Magazine)
SERGE SARGSIAN MET WITH US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
03.05.2005 05:34
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council at the
Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian today met with US
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, reported Seyran Shahsuvarian, Press
Secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry. Members of the American
delegation, led by head of the working group of experts of the US
Air Force, colonel Michael Andersen. The group is to give an official
evaluation of the Armed Forces of Armenia. In the course of the meeting
the interlocutors discussed actions to be held within the evaluation
process of the Armenian Armed Forces within the next few days.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress