Author: Maghakian Mike

CLINTON LAUDS IRISH PEACE PROCESS, URGES MORE PROGRESS
By Sonja Pace

Voice of America
12 October 2009
London

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the peace process
in Northern Ireland, saying it serves as an example for other conflict
areas that bitter enemies can resolve differences peacefully. Secretary
Clinton was addressing the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast,
during a stop during her five-day trip to Europe and Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) leaves Stormont Castle
in Belfast with Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson
(L) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (R), 12 Oct 2009 US
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (C), N. Ireland’s 1st Minister Peter
Robinson (L), Deputy 1st Minister Martin McGuinness (R) leave Belfast’s
Stormont Castle, 12 Oct 2009 Speaking to a packed chamber at Stormont,
the Northern Ireland Assembly, Hillary Clinton praised lawmakers for
progress made in a long and often arduous peace process.

"Today, Northern Ireland stands as an example to the world of how even
the staunchest adversaries can overcome differences to work together
for the common and greater good," she said.

For decades Northern Ireland was engulfed in sectarian violence, in
which nearly 4,000 people were killed. It pitted the mostly Catholic
Republicans, who want Northern Ireland free of British rule, against
the predominantly protestant Unionists, who want to remain part of
the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Clinton’s husband, President Bill Clinton helped mediate a
peace deal, the Good Friday Accord, in 1998. And, in May 2007 a new
power-sharing government took over administration of Northern Ireland
with bitter foes agreeing to sit together.

Since then, disagreements and suspicion have often kept the two sides
from moving forward.

Secretary Clinton said no doubt progress had been difficult and
divisions remain, but she urged the lawmakers to keep moving ahead.

"Even today many Catholics and Protestants live segregated lives;
separate schools, separate neighborhoods, e still divided by walls. But
given time and given the leadership that each of you can provide,
the torn fabric of society will be woven together, stitch by stitch,
choice by choice," she said.

Secretary Clinton warned against those seeking to disrupt the peace
process, referring to dissident republicans who killed two British
soldiers and a policeman earlier this year.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves as she speaks with
Armenian FM Edouard Nalbandian (R) at the University in Zurich, 10 Oct
2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves as she speaks with
Armenian FM Edouard Nalbandian (R) at the University in Zurich, 10 Oct
2009 Clinton’s visit to Europe began Saturday in Zurich, Switzerland
to attend another reconciliation meeting – between long-time enemies
Turkey and Armenia. The two countries agreed to establish diplomatic
ties and re-open their borders.

Hostilities between them stem from the mass killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turkish forces during and after World War One.

Clinton also held talks in London, where Iran and Afghanistan figured
prominently. She said the United States and others are willing to
listen to Iran, but she warned patience would not last forever.

In an interview on British radio, Clinton said Washington remains
committed to the goals set out for Afghanistan, but she also said
much more is expected of the Afghan government.

Secretary Clinton heads to Moscow for talks with Russian leaders.

AUTHOR MICHAEL BOBELIAN MET WITH THE PRIMATE
by Michael Bobelian

ichael-bobelian-met-with-the-primate/
Oct 02 2009

On Friday, September 26, author Michael Bobelian visited the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church to present a copy of his new book,
Children of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle
for Justice, to His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian.

Michael’s book was published by Simon & Schuster earlier this month and
he is currently on tour in California. The first book to chronicle the
aftermath of the Genocide, this pioneering work recounts the Armenian
struggle for justice in the face of a century of silence and denial.

Starting in 1915, the Ottoman Empire drove two million Armenians
from their ancestral homeland, slaughtering 1.5 million of them
in the process. After an immediate groundswell of support for the
"starving Armenians" led by President Woodrow Wilson, the atrocities
were wiped from the public’s consciousness and the perpetrators were
never held accountable.

This groundbreaking book explains how and why the Genocide disappeared
from memory and reveals, for the first time, the Armenian response
to Turkey’s recalcitrant denial of its crimes, taking readers from
massive demonstrations, to the halls of Congress, to courtroom battles.

During years of research, Michael interviewed more than 65 people,
from former Presidential candidate Bob Dole to Gourgen Yanikian’s
jury foreman to demonstrators from the 1960s who reignited the
Armenian cause, to provide a detailed, insider’s account of the
Armenian story. A mountain of research at libraries and archives
across the nation uncovered a host of information never before seen,
revealing the battles between Turkey, the American government, and
Armenian advocates.

"This powerful and gripping account of a people’s century-long struggle
for justice is long overdue."

– George Deukmejian, 35th Governor of California

Michael will be speaking at the Glendale Public Library on September
29 (7pm), the Fresno Public Library (Fig Garden Branch) on October 1
(7pm), the Ararat-Eskijian Museum on October 18 (4pm), and Chaucer’s
bookstore in Santa Barbara on October 27 (7pm).

AZERI PICKETERS BURNT TURKISH LEADERS

News.am
14:06 / 10/13/2009

Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) held a protest action against
Armenia-Turkey Protocols in front of Turkish Embassy in Baku. The
picketers having "Shame on Turkish authorities" slogans burnt the
black-featured portraits of the Turkish President, Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister, APA agency reports.

Ten-minute protest action was dispersed by police officers. Several
protestors, including KLO leader Akif Naghi were detained by the
policemen.

The protestors demanded Turkish Government to drop the policy of
Armenia-Turkey border opening and break off the negotiations, however
failed to deliver the picket resolution to the Embassy.

GUL: ICEBERG WILL NOT MELT IN ONE DAY

508.html
13:28:50 – 12/10/2009

The Turkish president Abdullah Gul stated that problems in the Armenian
and Turkish relations cannot be solved in one day and iceberg will
not melt in one instant.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN DISCUSSING TWO PRINCIPLES IN MADRID DOCUMENT: FOREIGN MINISTRY

Tert.am
12.10.09

Responding to Russian paper Commersant journalist’s question about
the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign
Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian stated "you are aware that if there
wasn’t positive dynamics, the presidents’ seventh meeting wouldn’t
have taken place, and no one would speak about preparing for new
meetings. A difficult process is taking place, which is developing
in the necessary direction."

He also stated there are numerous principles in the Madrid document
and presently the sides are discussing two of them.

"If we agree upon two of them, we will move ahead. And when we agree
upon all the principles, the preparation process for the peace treaty
will begin. It is a long process full of many difficulties. But it is
important that the sides understand that and they must try to approach
those statements carefully, both when the positions are similar and
when there are disagreements.

"It is important, so that the process continues since it is in two
countries’ interests to move ahead and finally arrive at an agreement,
which will assist in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. They are not
secret principles. The details of the Madrid Principles are published
and it is clear what we’re talking about. But we are working on the
main principles. And if an agreement is reached on those principles,
it will pave the way for progress," Nalbandian said.

OUTRAGE: FOOTAGE SHOWS PRO-ABORT STUDENTS SHOUTING DOWN PRO-LIFE PRESENTER
By Patrick B. Craine

Lifesite
Thursday October 8, 2009

The pro-abortion protesters, two of whom were arrested, now say they
"feel their right to assemble has been violated."

MONTREAL, Quebec, October 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A pro-life
presentation at McGill University erupted in chaos Tuesday after a
mob of pro-abortion students were allowed to silence the pro-life
message while university officials made meek attempts to intervene
until the designated time ran out.

Ironically, following the event the pro-abortion protesters complained
that their ‘right to assemble’ was violated.

The videotaped presentation, entitled ‘Echoes of the Holocaust,’
was given by the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform’s Jose Ruba
and hosted by McGill University’s Choose Life club. The talk aimed to
draw a parallel between past genocidal atrocities and abortion. The
entire ordeal is now available on YouTube.

As Ruba began to speak, a woman in the audience stood up and told
him that he was not welcome. A group then began banging on desks and
shouting, "Please go! Please go!"

After Ruba explained to the protesters that he would like to hear their
side of the debate, one of them shot back, "It’s not a debate!" Another
told Ruba to "f**k off!" and another said, "We don’t need hate speech
at our university."

Ruba began displaying images on the screen, prompting the mob to take
over the front of the room and block them. Smiling and laughing as they
prevented Ruba from speaking, they made noise in a variety of ways,
such as singing children’s songs and telling jokes. At one point,
they even sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to abortion, in English and French.

Security asked the protesters to be quiet or leave, but when the
protesters refused, security backed off. They intervened occasionally
as protesters stood on tables, grabbed at Ruba’s written materials,
or fiddled with equipment.

The police eventually arrived (see video 8 of 19), and after speaking
wit e students, the officer gave them five minutes to stand down or
leave. Two were arrested and the rest joined the audience, mostly
gathering to one side.

Ruba was able to deliver the first thirty minutes of his presentation,
but the mob stood and continued yelling at him as he made every point.

When the designated time ran out, Choose Life founder and president
Natalie Fohl ended the event. Ruba had been able to discuss past
genocides such as the Holocaust, and those in Armenia and Cambodia, but
had not had the opportunity yet to draw the connection with abortion.

Despite the two arrests, CTV reports that the two protesters were
released and no charges were laid. In fact, the protesters have
complained that their rights were infringed by police having been
called to break up the protest. According to Student Society of
McGill University’s (SSMU) Equity Commissioner Jonathan Hann, "They
feel their right to assemble has been violated, and they were treated
unjustly and unfairly because of it," reports the McGill Daily,

The SSMU passed a motion last week by a vote of 25-2-2 to censure the
event, seek its cancellation by the university, and refuse funding
to Choose Life should the group proceed despite the censure.

The SSMU executive issued an open letter yesterday in reaction to
Tuesday night’s presentation, condemning the university for allowing
the event to happen despite SSMU’s censure.

"Vulnerable students tried to communicate their concerns to the
University through the available channels: the SSMU executive, SSMU
Council, AUS [Arts Undergraduate Society] Council, the McGill Tribune,
and The McGill Daily," it reads. "There were no other avenues through
which to stop this event, which they deemed as victimizing, offensive,
and stifling of educated debate, from happening."

"Furthermore it is unfair to expect these student protesters
to calmly watch a presentation and engage with a speaker when
such a presentation would make them feel violated, demonized, and
silenced," they continued. "This event crea t and should not have
been permitted. It is possibly most disappointing that when students
peacefully engaged in a public response to this hostile environment,
they were removed through a police intervention."

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson, who had
defended Choose Life’s right to have Ruba speak, stood his ground,
insisting that the university "want[s] to foster debate," reports
McGill Daily. "We do not want to restrict the expression of ideas,"
he said. "As I said to SSMU when I was asked to intervene and cancel
the event, I said ‘Look, debate free of constraint is important
as long as the discourse remains civil, does not violate a law,
or McGill’s code of conduct and disciplinary procedures’."

"[The event] was scheduled in a room that was not a public space
[and] not in an open public area," he continued. "The publicity of
the event advised individuals of the nature of the graphic imagery,
and the graphic imagery was confined to the room. So in that sense,
I felt the event was an appropriate event."

The SSMU is hosting a ‘Controversial Events Townhall’ meeting with
Mendelson this evening. It will be an open forum in which students
will discuss the question: "How should the SSMU and McGill decide
what events should and should not be allowed in the Shatner Building
and on campus?"

1ST "HRANT DINK" AWARDS GO TO TURKISH, ISRAELI JOURNALISTS

AZG DAILY
09-10-2009

Mass Media

Turkish journalist Alper GörmuÅ~_ and Israeli journalist Amira Haas
became the first recipients of the Hrant Dink International Award on
Tuesday evening, given in the name of Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian
journalist who was murdered in 2007.

Ali Bayramoglu, the head of the award committee of the International
Hrant Dink Foundation established by the Dink family, said at the
ceremony that "what we are looking for is what Hrant symbolizes," in
reference to his ideals, which were "purified out of discrimination,"
and people who follow those ideals taking risks for a more just
world.GörmuÅ~_, a columnist for the Taraf newspaper and a faculty
member at Bilgi University, said after receiving the award that he
carries a great responsibility because he has fears that he could do
something improper to undermine the meaning of the award.

"I saw Hrant Dink right after the Supreme Court of Appeals upheld
a lower court’s decision to convict him. I had gone to Agos for an
interview with him. During the whole interview, he spent all his energy
explaining why it was impossible for him to ‘insult Turkishness’,"
GörmuÅ~_ said.

Haas, a correspondent for Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, expressed
her regret over Dink’s death and that the award was named "after a
murdered man." Born in Jerusalem, she is the daughter of Holocaust
survivors. Reporting on the Palestinians since 1991 when Haaretz
sent her to Gaza, she became the first and only Israeli journalist
to settle in Ramallah in the West Bank to live among Palestinians.

Dink’s wife, Rakel, said in her emotional speech that Dink would
have been 55 on Sept. 15 if his life had not been "usurped." She
said establishing the foundation was a result of efforts from many
"friends" and that it was difficult to heal the wound.

KardeÅ~_ Turkuler, a well-known folk music ensemble praised for its
wide repertoire of ethnic music from A urkish-Armenian avant-garde
folk musician, gave a short concert at the ceremony, hetq.am reports.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: IT IS WE, AS THE STATE AND STATESMEN, THAT BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIGNING OF DOCUMENTS AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY BURDEN ON SOMEBODY ELSE

ArmInfo
2009-10-08 17:00:00

Yerevan, October 8. ArmInfo. On the initiative of Armenian President,
Chairman of Armenian National Security Council Serzh Sargsyan,
the Security Council held an enlarged session, Thursday. Besides the
National Security Council representatives, Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, Leader of Propserous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan,
Chairman of the Public Council Vazgen Manoukyan and Diaspora Minister
Hranush Hakobyan took part in the session.

The session covered the current stage of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, as well as the state’s forthcoming work on
the specified issue. In addition, the results of the public hearings
on normalization of the relations with Turkey, and the Pan-Armenian
Tour of Serzh Sargsyan were summed up.

The president said that people, who sincerely believe that the
process of normalization of Armenian- Turkish relations is restricted
to initialing of the Protocols, think that the discussions with
Diaspora representatives are late. "Certainly, it is not so. The
discussions in Diaspora were of great significance for me in
respect of planning the tactics and strategy of the difficult chain
from initialing to signing, from signing to ratification, and from
ratification to implementation of the Armenian-Turkish documents",-
he stressed. Serzh Sargsyan doesn’t share the opinion that Armenia
has no relevant human, financial, economic or political resources
to organize these relations. "I think this is a wrong approach",-
he said and added that we need to mobilize our resources.

As regards possible economic and demographic expansion, the president
stressed: "This is the same as to say that the best way to get rid
of the headache is to get rid of the head". He pointed out that
during the meetings with Diaspora representatives he stressed once
again Armenia’s approach: the Protocols can’t be considered documents
harming Armenia’s positions in the Karabakh peace process. "We are
not ready and we’ll never make unilateral concessions on Karabakh
conflict no matter what we are offered instead",- he said.

Touching on the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Serzh Sargsyan said:
"In this issue of recognition and condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide we have our own commitments that should be carried out up
to the end". "It’s a pity that on the emotional basis some of our
brothers and sisters have lost the ideological basis of their steps",-
he added. However, Sargsyan pointed out that in Diaspora he also
heard words of support and encouragement. "It is we, as the state
and statesmen, that bear the full responsibility for signing of the
documents, and we are not going to shift the burden of responsibility
on somebody else",- he stressed.

CRISIS PROVIDES A STRONG STIMULUS FOR DEVELOPING

Aysor.am
Thursday, October 08

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan has participated at today’s
session of CIS Antimonopoly Police Interstate Council where welcoming
the participants he pointed the importance of such activities launched
in Armenia.

"We have concerns on monopoly phenomenon in Armenia which are caused
by shadow economy and limited ways of entering into international
markets. Small and medium biz can not grow and develop, while field
is free available for big- businesses. Armenia’s geopolitical location
is a holdback for internal rivalry."

Mr. Sarkisyan also reviewed economy under crisis which despite of fall
makes the country be competitive. Crisis provides a strong stimulus
for developing and promotes ambitious programs, shared his view PM.

Jubilee session was attended by CIS Antimonopoly Policy Bodies of
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan,
and Ukraine as well as representatives of numerous counties beyond CIS
and some international organizations, reports Cabinet’s press-office.

TURKEY: WE ARE NOT A PART NOR A SIDE IN NAGORNO TALKS

News.am
20:07 / 10/07/2009

"We are not a part nor a side in the Nagorno talks, but we would
welcome any progress towards a comprehensive solution between Armenia
and Azerbaijan," a Turkish government official in Ankara said,
Reuters reads.

Armenia and Turkey, at loggerheads since the World War One mass
killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, plan to sign a protocol in
Zurich committing them to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen
their common border. In the latest diplomatic round, two days before
the Swiss ceremony, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold
new talks on Karabakh in Moldova’s capital Chisinau on Thursday.

"There are intensified efforts … to make sure that at some point,
relatively soon, there will be something from the Karabakh process
that could help the Turkish-Armenian process move forward," a senior
European diplomat told Reuters. But, speaking on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity surrounding the talks, the European diplomat
added that he did not expect any major announcement in Moldova, saying:
"I think it’s going to take longer than that."

The senior European diplomat, asked about the chances of Turkey
opening the border as planned by year-end, without progress on
Nagorno-Karabakh, replied: "Fairly slim."

Reuters also amplifies the current situation in Armenia-Turkey
relations.

Armenia and Turkey are due to sign historic accords ending a century
of hostility on Saturday but a simmering territorial dispute could
yet complicate their plans, diplomats said.

Officially, the Azeri-Armenia talks on Karabakh are separate from
the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. In reality they are closely linked
because Turkey has close cultural ties with Muslim Azerbaijan and
closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan
over the Karabakh war.