Author: Maghakian Mike

Pan Armenian News
LUXEMBOURG CAN BUILD NEW BRIDGES BETWEEN ARMENIA AND EU
28.05.2005 04:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdasarian met with
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henry, press service of the RA NA reported. During
the meeting the parties discussed bilateral relations, peaceful settlement
of regional conflicts as well as cooperation within the EU New Neighborhood
EU policy. During the meeting with the Armenian delegation Minister to
Foreign Affairs and Immigration Nicolas Schmit noted that Luxembourg can
build new bridges between Armenia and the EU. Artuir Baghdasarian in his
turn presented the developments in the South Caucasus as well as Armenia’s
position on relations with neighbor states including Turkey. The parties
also agreed on cooperation in international structures.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
May 27, 2005
RELIGIONE: L’ARMENO GURDJIEFF TRA PRIMI MAESTRI SPIRITUALI ;
ASSIEME A GIOVANNI PAOLO II E DALAI LAMA DICE RICERCA CESNUR
TORINO
(ANSA) – TORINO, 27 MAG – Tra le prime cinque figure
spirituali di tutti i tempi si trova l’ armeno Georges
Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, morto negli Stati Uniti nel 1949 dopo
avere soggiornato a lungo in Francia. Ad affermarlo e’ una
ricerca del Cesnur, il Centro studi sulle nuove religioni, che
verra’ presentata il 31 maggio a Torino.

Gurdjieff non e’ conosciuto dal pubblico di massa, ma i suoi
insegnamenti, a distanza di anni, continuano ad ammaliare tante
persone alla ricerca del senso dell’ esistenza, e il suo nome –
riferisce lo studio – puo’ a buon diritto essere inserito in un
elenco che comprende, ai vertici, uomini come Giovanni Paolo II
e il Dalai Lama. Quello che finora non si e’ prodotto,
certamente per una scelta molto precisa, e’ stata una
divulgazione capillare del sistema da lui elaborato: “L’
insegnamento, se non segreto, e’ sempre rimasto discreto, ed e
stato diversamente interpretato da scuole, correnti e discepoli
indipendenti”, spiega Pierluigi Zoccatelli, del Cesnur. Eppure,
continua Zoccatelli, “Gurdijeff ha esercitato un’ influenza
tanto estesa quanto poco nota sulla letteratura, l’ arte, l’
architettura e la musica contemporanea”. Due soli esempi:
Pamela Travers, l’ autrice di “Mary Poppins”, e Frank Lloyd
Wright, il piu’ celebre architetto americano del XX secolo, sui
quali l’ influsso e’ stato dichiaratamente profondo.

Il fascino di Gurdjieff risiede nell’ “idea – spiega la
docente statunitense Costance Jones, – che la maggior parte
delle persone pensa di essere sveglia, ma in realta’ dorme e
rimane per tutta la vita in uno stato di non perfetta
autocoscienza. Solo una elite, attraverso tecniche particolari e
un lavoro su se stesso di una durezza talora brutale, riesce
davvero a risvegliarsi”. Tecniche e discipline interiori che
Gurdjieff mise a punto operando insieme a un ristretto manipolo
di compagni tra le genti dell’ Asia Centrale, del Medio Oriente
e persino dell’ Africa, e raccogliendo le tessere sparse di un
mosaico per comporre quello che uno dei suoi allievi, Piotr
Demianovic Ouspensky, indico’ come un tutto indivisibile. “Oggi
– ha sottolineato J.Gordon Melton, direttore del californiano
Institute for the Study of american religion, nel corso del suo
intervento torinese – Gurdjieff e’ uno dei piu’ importanti
maestri dell’ esoterismo occidentale moderno, pur avendo
rifiutato la qualifica di ‘maestro’ e usato solo con grande
circospezione la parola ‘esoterismo'”.

Alla conferenza verra’ anche presentato il volume della
Jones, “G.I. Gurdjieff e la sua eredita'” (Elledici, 2005). I
libri firmati dal pensatore armeno (dei quali il piu’ celebre e
senz’ altro “Incontri con uomini straordinari”) sono molto
popolari tra gli artisti, e incontrano, in Italia, una
diffusione ormai crescente. Aumentano ormai anche le
pubblicazioni dedicate ai suoi insegnamenti. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian conference issue “beyond my area of interest” – Turkish premier
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
27 May 05
ASTANA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Greek Cypriot
administration did not fulfil its task on solution of Cyprus issue,
stating that Greek Cypriot administration was the number one reason of
not reaching a solution on Cyprus issue.
Erdogan proceeded from Astana to Almaty, Kazakhstan and talked with
journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel.
When he was reminded of the European Union’s (EU) reactions to
postponement of the conference entitled, “Ottoman Armenians in the Era
of Collapse of the Empire: Scientific Responsibility and Democracy
Problems” to be held by Istanbul’s Bogazici University, Erdogan said,
“these developments are all beyond my area of interest. Conferences
and symposiums are held. I have nothing to do with it. I am not a
person who has problem with such issues. My problem is that I think if
those who have to guard the values of this country evaluates the issue
with subjective comments without taking into all these documents on
scientific grounds, it will be disrespect to the past of our country
and nation.”
Erdogan stressed that Turkish state opened its all documents and
archives on this matter, stating that people should study these
archives and then they should held such seminars or symposiums.
[Passage omitted]

A1plus
| 13:33:51 | 27-05-2005 | Official |
FROM HAGUE TO LUXEMBURG
In Hague the delegation with NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan at the head
has had meetings with the organization prohibiting chemical weapon. Armenia
is one of the countries which have ratified the convention prohibiting
chemical weapons. Head of the organization Rogelio Pfirter found the role of
the Parliamentarians extremely important in taking the challenges if the
time mentioning that they can not only create laws but also follow their
realization.
RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan represented Mr. Pfirter the developments
in Armenia in the combat with chemical and biological weapons. During the
meeting an agreement was reached to organize in Yerevan a forum with the
theme of prohibiting chemical weapon.
On May 26 In the Netherlands Royal University the EU «New Neighbors» program
was discussed. NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan represented in every detail
all the reforms in Armenia and the Armenian point of view about the regional
problems. Also, an agreement was reached to establish close cooperation
between the Armenian and Dutch higher educational institutions.
At the same day the delegation with RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan at
the head left for Luxemburg.

Turkish parliament speaker urges U.S. not to declare 20th century
killings as genocide
AP Worldstream
May 26, 2005

The speaker of Turkey’s parliament, Bulent Arinc, said Thursday that
the U.S. Congress should avoid allowing political considerations
affect historical judgments _ implicitly urging lawmakers not to
recognize the World War I-era killings of Armenians as genocide.
“We find it wrong that the U.S. Congress should be forced into a
position of passing judgment on historical issues,” Arinc said in a
speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a
Washington think tank.
Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings of up to 1.5
million of its people between 1915 and 1923 as part of a campaign to
force them out of eastern Turkey. Turkey denies this.
Several countries have declared the killings a genocide and there have
been calls from Armenians worldwide for the U.S. Congress to do the
same.
Arinc said it was important to oppose “such narrow-minded attempts.”
He said Turkey is ready to establish an independent commission to
investigate the killings.
Arinc offered a generally upbeat view of U.S.-Turkey relations. “What
unites us is far more pronounced than what may divide us,” he said.

AZG Armenian Daily #094, 25/05/2005
Turkey
‘OTTOMAN ARMENIANS AT DECLINE OF THE EMPIRE. SCIENTIFIC RESPONSIBILITY AND
ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY’
Scientific Workshop Stirs Up Excitement in Turkey
A scientific conference titled “Ottoman Armenians at decline of the Empire.
Scientific Responsibility and Issues of Democracy” will be held in Bosphorus
University of Istanbul on May 25-27. Among all reporters of the workshop the
names of Murad Belge, Halil Berktay, Selim Deringil, Taner Akcam, Fatma
Myuge Gyuceq, Fiqret Adanir and Mete Tuncay should be singled out as
scientists who either recognize the Armenian Genocide or show liking for
recognition. Judging from the hubbub, Turkey’s official denial of the
Genocide seems to bother the other participants of the workshop as well.
In May 23 issue, Turkish Milliyet newspaper sees the reason of the noise in
mutual condemnations of attackers and defenders of Turkey’s negation.
Hurriyet wrote the same day that “the intelligentsia took alarm because of a
workshop dedicated to the Armenian issue and declared war for a workshop
that has not even begun”.
Prof. Ilber Ortaili from Galatasaray University condemned organizers of the
conference saying, “All invited scientists are from a famous team. It’s
impossible to have healthy discussions in such conditions. I somewhat
understand that they did not invite president of Turkish Historic Foundation
Yusuf Halacoglu but they should not pass by specialist of international law
Gyunduz Aktan. Legal issues will be treated by English philosopher Murad
Belge. Our country is a democratic one, and everyone does what he wants”.
Belge responded from the pages of Radikal, “Ortaili says that all the
invited are from a famous team. Yes indeed, he is no more from that team as
he preferred another team. He is not ignorant thus he does know that his
words are false. But his choice leaves no room for an alternative”.
In the meantime, Halacoglu accused the organizers of “deserting to the
Armenian Diaspora” and said, “Those expressing views of the Armenian side
are invited whereas I am not. If I am expressing the official opinion, then
they guard the views of Diaspora”.
Hurriyet notes that Halil Berktay replied to all critics on behalf of the
organizational committee. He said, “The official thesis on the Armenian
issue was almost the prevailing ideology in Turkey for decades. Most of us
have learnt every sentence of it by heart. For this reason there is no need
that Eleqdag or Halacoglu come and “enlighten” us. Let the supporters of the
official view keep us away from engaging in rubbish that they themselves do
not believe in. There were many conferences in our country dedicated to the
Armenian issue. But all of them were one-sided: no independent historian was
ever invited to any of them. For one, the initiators of a workshop backed by
the Eurasian Center for Strategic Studies and National Security Council
trumpeted that they will not invite Halil Berktay, i.e. me. Hence, the
complaints of those holding to official stance should be taken as black
humor”.
By Hakob Chakrian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A!plus
| 16:51:39 | 24-05-2005 | Social |
MAYOR OF YEREVAN `REVEALED’ COMMERCIAL SECRET
50 Ukrainian buses were put into operation in Yerevan today. Alleging
commercial secret head of the transport department Tigran Ghazaryan
refrained from naming the organization, which paid $26000 for the buses.
However Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan revealed the secret. Bus CJSC
received the credit from the Intergovernmental bank subordinated to the city
administration. The interests of the bank were left in the frames of the
`commercial secret’.
Today Yervand Zakharyan stated that till the end of the year the number of
buses will make 200 and in future 50 more buses and 12 trolley-buses will be
imported.
The new buses can convey 45 sitting passengers and the fair will make 100
drams. The buses will follow 6 new routes.

A1plus
| 17:29:56 | 24-05-2005 | Politics |
ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHETIA UNDERSTAND
Today the Council of the public organizations of Samtskhe-Javakhetia
discussed the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Akhalkalaki.
`The population of Javakhetia should get the understanding of the fact that
took place, since the decision depends on the position on the Russian and
Georgian authorities. It is true that the Russian military base solved
certain economic problems and was a guarantor of physical security but the
resident of Javakhetia should not perceive the withdrawal as a tragedy. Even
of the Georgian authorities fail to provide security of the Javakheti
population, the people can rely on the international community and
international laws’, the conclusion of the council was, A-info reported.
To remind, the negotiations on the terms of the withdrawal are coming to an
end in Tbilisi. The talks are conducted by Ambassador with special
commission of the RF Foreign Ministry Igor Savolsky and Georgia Deputy
Foreign Minister Merab Antadze. The Russian party proposes to withdraw the
troops during 2008 while Georgia insists that the bases should be withdrawn
till January 1, 2008.

Hürriyetim
23.05.2005
War of words before conference on Armenians has even begun
,,sid~381@nvid~580682,00.asp
Profes sor Ilber Ortayli (left) and Murat Belge
Sefa Kaplan
A conference to be held between May 25-27 at Bosphorus University is
sparking arguments before it has even started. The conference, organized by
the Bosphorus, Bilgi, and Sabanci Universities, is entitled “Ottoman
Armenians During the Collapse of the Empire: Scholarly Responsibility and
Problems with Democracy,” and is expected to attract wide participation.
The sharpest criticism so far of the conference has come from Professor
Ilber Ortayli of Galatasaray University, who has said:
The same old team of people
“The people invited are the same ones who are always invited. There is no
way the issues can be argued healthily.” Ortayli went on, “Maybe they
couldn’t invite Professor Yusuf Halacoglu (embattled Turkish professor
recently accused by a Swiss prosecutor of violating Swiss law by denying the
Armenian genocide), by they should have invited retired diplomat Gunduz
Aktan for his knowledge of law….In this country, there is democracy,
everyone can do what they want. Everyone can account for their actions. My
views on this matter are clear.”
Professor Yusuf Halacoglu also had criticisms for the upcoming conference:
“They have invited people who will echo the views of the Armenian side. Why
haven’t they invited me? If they see me as representing the official view on
the matter, they must be defending the diaspora view of things.”
Professor Berktay of Sabanci University: No need for Halacoglu to
“re-enlighten” us
In answer to much of the criticism, Professor Halil Berktay of Sabanci
University had this to say: “The official response of the Turkish government
on this matter has practically been memorized. Conferences on the Armenian
question have been organized for years in this country. All of them have
been one sided; historians that criticized freely were never invited. There
is no need for Professor Halacoglu to “re-enlighten” us on his views.”
Retired diplomat Elekdag: Goal of conference is to stain Turkey
Retired diplomat and Republican People’s (CHP) Party MP Sukru Elekdag had
these strong words for the conference organizers: “There is a desire to
broadcast Armenian propoganda. No one was invited to speak about history in
an objective and honest way. It is very sad that a meeting whose objective
is to stain Turkey is being held at Bosphorus University.”

A1plus
| 14:18:38 | 23-05-2005 | Social |
LET’S SHOW OUR POWER WITH DANCE
`The round dance will not be in the same place. It is our symbol, our eagle
which will be like a fire ring when shot from above. Dancing holding each
other’s pinkies will have no power, we must stretch like a string to have
power’, said Vanoush Khanamiryan, President of the Dance Union, about the
Round Dance around Aragats on May 28. Vanoush Khanamiryan was the guest of
the club `Pakagits’.
Vanoush Khanamiryan was angry by the fact that the Round Dance will not have
a name. Besides, by the request of Aghvan Hovsepyan, the heads of the 50
dance groups have gathered and created the music for the dance with Ara
Gevorgyan. They have collected a number of Armenian songs (Dance of Sasoun,
Berd), which was later altered by the heads of the Round Dance. In this
connection Mr. Khanamiryan said, `Well, we are Armenians, we are all
Generals, there are no soldiers.’
In spite of this, Vanoush Khanamiryan will take part in the dance together
with 6000 dancers, wearing Armenian national dresses, and he will show his
dance, which he also showed today with the participants of the press
conference.