Author: Nahapetian Boris

ARMENIANS ARE HOT
By Alec Mouhibian

American Spectator
Oct 16 2007

I never thought the day would come. But here it is! Being an Armenian
— like playing women’s basketball at Rutgers, losing money on
Enron, and contracting AIDS in Africa before it — is now relevant
and topical. Hell, yes. I feel so damn temporarily important, and I
wouldn’t trade it for having sold steroids to sluggers or resisted
arrest in Los Angeles or, for that matter, having rented storefront
from Barney Frank. Bask, fellow Armenians! Bask. Ours is the world
and all that’s in it — and, which is more, we’ll have a hairy son.

Lest you’ve been comatose or going to history class at Princeton,
the source of the spotlight is Congress’s resolution to recognize
the Armenian genocide of 1915 as "genocide." Turkey still insists
it was merely a transportation malfunction, in which 1.5 million
Armenians mysteriously vanished as piles of human carcasses appeared
in their place.

Observers may find the issue inherently dull at first sight. Be
patient. You don’t want to miss the massive collateral amusement —
whether it’s Islamic Turkey taking postmodern relativism to its
logical conclusion, competitors in the victim business afraid of
losing market-share, arch unilateralists waxing worrisome over the
self-esteem of a pathetically dependent ally, or truth-trumpeting
moralists suddenly blowing dry in the name of diplomacy. Progressives
have a meta-political reason to like the Armenian issue: it always
results in an equal distribution of hypocrisy.

Add a few drops of Bush blood and you get a media frenzy that far
outdoes anything surrounding the issue in its cyclical past. Jon
Stewart gave it two segments on the Daily Show. The blogosphere is
very enjoyably in thrall. And for the most trenchant criticism of
the resolution, see Garin Hovannisian’s piece in the Washington Times.

Even if Congress ends up restraining the resolution, this should be
considered a victory for the tireless Armenian advocacy brigade.

Awareness — of the international insult-to-injury of denial — is all
they can really expect. "Who today," Hitler asked his elite generals
nine days before invading Poland, "speaks of the annihilation of the
Armenians?" Our next tyrant will have to find some other fodder for
his pep-talk.

Any achievement beyond this level of exposure would be purely
symbolic. No moderately reasonable person can fail to identify the
historical event as genocide. Unless, of course, he’s playing dumb
— either because he’s grown used to it as a writer for the Nation,
or because he’s on the Turkish dole.

Did you know the Armenian issue has actually been a hot topic in the
Anglo-American world once before? Herbert Hoover, reflecting on 1919,
said "the name Armenia was in the front of the American mind… known
to the American schoolchild only a little less than England." Ravaged
survivors became a cause celebre of roarin’ do-gooders. Pride bonus:
no government funding was involved. Calvin Coolidge spoke fondly of the
"private enterprise" from 1919 to 1929 that raised today’s equivalent
of over $1 billion in charity for Armenians.

Virginia Woolf even used the Armenian issue as a device in the
character development of Mrs. Dalloway.

"Armenians," he said; or perhaps it was "Albanians….

He was already halfway to the House of Commons, to his Armenians, his
Albanians, having settled her on the sofa, looking at his roses. And
people would say, "Clarissa Dalloway is spoilt." She cared much
more for her roses than for the Armenians. Hunted out of existence,
maimed, frozen, the victims of cruelty and injustice (she had heard
Richard say so over and over again) — no, she could feel nothing
for the Albanians, or was it the Armenians? but she loved her roses
(didn’t that help the Armenians?) — the only flowers she could bear
to see cut.

Mrs. Dalloway’s cavalier confusion of the two A-ians reveals her
socialite shallowness. Perhaps today’s issue can be used by a working
novelist (Kristin Gore?) to develop one of her characters. Then
it can be referred to in 2097, when being Armenian is cool again,
thanks to some historically-conscious teamsters who lobby Congress
to finally recognize the cinematic contributions of Rueben Mamoulian.

Alec Mouhbian writes from northern Virginia.

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LEADERS OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF U.S. AND RUSSIA DO NOT UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 15 2007

Apparently, the Union of Armenians of Russia is jealous about
the Resolution 106 adopted by the U.S. House Committee of Foreign
Affairs. At least, the political scientist Andranik Mihranyan who
is close with this union and its leader advised not to rush into
euphoria. Three days later the president of the Union of Armenians
of Rusia Ara Abrahamyan repeated Mihranyan in a news conference on
October 15 in Yerevan.

"First of all, we should not forget that the government of the United
States is Turkey’s strategic ally. We should not forget that the
United States is at war with Iraq, Afghanistan and is preparing for
a war or sanctions on Iran. Turkey is highly important to the United
States. We should not underestimate Turkey. I wish this issue were
solved. We should continue to hope, the Armenian government, all of
us should work nip and tuck," Ara Abrahamyan says.

According to him it is necessary to make sure what the second, the
third step following recognition will be. Ara Abrahamyan is obviously
dissatisfied that the Armenian organizations in the United States
prevented the World Congress of Armenians from setting up a branch in
the United States and becoming involved in the process of recognition
of the Genocide. "I arranged with the government of the United States,
I addressed Armenians in Los Angeles, 400-500 people, they asked me
questions, I answered them. I said the World Armenian Congress aims
to set up a branch in the United States to enable closer relations
between the two communities. Unfortunately, however, I don’t know
if you track the U.S. media, they said we have nothing to do there,
we had better not interfere with their activities. I disagree, I
generally disagree and I don’t want to say that their activities are
good or bad. If the issue is not solved, it means those are bad. We
have temporarily left aside this intention but it is highly important
for the World Congress of Armenians to set up a branch in the United
States," Ara Abrahamyan says.

His words may imply that if the World Armenian Congress dealt with
the issue of recognition of the Genocide in the United States, the
issue could have made considerable progress.

"You see, if I now say that we would succeed if we cooperated,
perhaps it would not be right but I can say, they gave me the
right to say, since they refuse to collaborate with us, I can say
if we collaborated, we would have succeeded. The problem is that
I have had dozens of meetings with all the Armenian organizations
of America. I have talked to them for dozens of times, I have said
that this organization wants to set up a branch, perhaps it does not
attack the interests of any other organization. This is quite another
organization which pursues one or two issues which are not sufficiently
addressed in the United States. And everyone I know, all the parties,
I will not list them, I met with the leaders of all of them. I met
with different U.S. government officials and discussed this issue,"
Ara Abrahamyan says.

"Vladimir Putin now, his stance on Armenia has always been positive,
he has good relations with the president of Armenia. They often meet.

If you track the developments, Putin meets with the president of the
Republic of Armenia more often than with any other president," stated
the president of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamyan on
October 15 in Yerevan with regard to the political future of Vladimir
Putin and Robert Kocharyan, namely the prospect of becoming prime
minister.

"If Putin becomes our prime minister, I can say that we will be happy,
very happy," says the Russia-based businessman Ara Abrahamyan.

Meanwhile, with regard to Robert Kocharyan’s prospect of becoming
prime minister and generally Robert Kocharyan’s political future
Ara Abrahamyan speaks indefinitely. "For Robert Kocharyan, I don’t
know, it is up to him to decide, because I don’t know what he will
be doing, I don’t know. You are asking me, I live in Russia, it is
good for us if Putin remains. That is already up to the Armenian
government. Whoever the prime minister of Armenia is, we must work
with him. We cannot refuse to cooperate. We cannot elect. You elect
and you make a decision. We elect in Russia, therefore we speak about
Russia," Ara Abrahamyan says.

ARMENIAN POLISHED DIAMOND OUTPUT FALLS 49.2% IN JAN-SEPT 2007

Tacy
Oct 15 2007
Israel

Armenia’s polished diamond output of fell 49.2 percent to approximately
US$99 million (AMD 32.97 billion) in January-September of this year,
according to Gagik Mkrtchian, the head of the Trade Ministry’s precious
stones and jewelry department.

Mkrtchian told Russian news source Interfax that sales for these
first nine months of 2007 also fell 51.1 percent to approximately
US$95.68 million (AMD 31.84 billion) and exports similarly decreased
50.4 percent to approximately US$94.51 million (AMD 31.45 billion).

Mkrtchian predicts the "slump" in the diamond cutting center will
recover by the end of this year and that the sector is expected to
grow in 2008. He added that the slowdown in production and exports
has translated into local job cuts.

Russian diamond producer Alrosa and the Armenian government signed
a cooperation agreement in August between the cutting and jewelry
sectors. Mkrtchian said that a joint company between Armenian cutting
companies and Alrosa is expected to start work in 2008, which will
enhance Armenia’s cutting center.

Mkrtchian also told Interfax that he hopes, for the sake of local
employment, that Shogakn, the country’s largest cutting company, which
is owned by Lev Leviev, would not close, despite reports claiming
the contrary.

San Antonio Express, TX
Oct 12 2007

Solving the genocides of today more useful than looking back

Mansour El-Kikhia:

Web Posted: 10/11/2007 07:00 PM CDT
San Antonio Express-News

I am intrigued by this week’s vote in the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the House of Representatives. The committee voted 27-21 to
classify the death of Armenians under Turkish occupation at the
beginning of the previous century as genocide.
President Bush warned that Turkey would not be pleased by the vote
and might be so offended that it would suspend all American traffic
to northern Iraq. However, Bush’s major fear is a Turkish invasion of
Kurdish-controlled areas of Iraq in search of Kurdistan Workers Party
terrorists who have been conducting operations in Turkey and
withdrawing to Kurdish Iraq.

I first learned of the Armenian version of events and the claims of
genocide many years ago when I lived in Lebanon with its sizable
Armenian minority. I was even more surprised to find so many
Armenians learning and speaking Turkish as though they were keeping
the memory alive.

While I sympathize with the Armenians, I also feel sorry for the
Turks, who were severed from their history and culture in the early
1920s by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In the
minds of many Turks, pre-Ataturk Turkey did not exist and they
certainly don’t want to be held accountable for it.

The Turks will not take responsibility for events not in their memory
banks and, as expected, many young Turks will respond with hostility
to the United States, Armenia and Armenians in and outside Turkey.

I am not surprised at the perseverance of Armenians to rectify what
they perceive as an injustice committed by the Turks, but I am a
little surprised at the congressional pandering. What do the
Armenians and Congress hope to achieve by this action, short of
alienating a U.S. ally at a time when America needs every one it can
get?

Additionally, if Congress wants to play this role, it also needs to
pass a slew of resolutions classifying other historical atrocities as
genocide. The first can be in support of the other 3.9 million people
who died in the ovens of Nazi Germany but whom we rarely hear about;
these included Gypsies, Poles, Czechs, Germans and other people of
occupied lands.

Italy needs to be held accountable for the death of 1.8 million
Libyans in concentration camps from 1926-1933. France has to be held
accountable for the murder of more than 1 million Algerians from
1954-1962. How about a resolution slamming Stalin-era Russia for what
it did to the Chechnyans and other occupied peoples? Or maybe a
resolution faulting the Japanese for what they did to China or Korea?

I hate to say this, but few areas of the world did not suffer at
human hands, and the time has come to stop holding the children
responsible for the sins of parents. Only then will humanity be able
to start fresh.

Does anyone think that Turkish future policies toward Armenians will
not be influenced by this vote? Germans resent being reminded every
day how awful their parents, their grandparents and their culture
have been, and might still be, for the atrocities committed by Nazi
thugs. What is preventing closer relations between Asian countries
except ancient hostilities and claims of genocide?

I suppose age modifies one’s view of the world and provides a point
of reference. However, I do know that the massacres and genocides we
experienced during the past decade or two have their roots in history
because one group or another blames the children for the sins of the
parents or grandparents. In these we can include Bosnia, Rwanda,
Liberia, Ivory Coast and a host of others.

A wise Japanese once said, why worry about your beard if your head is
going to be cut off? The time has come to solve the current
genocides, such as the one in Darfur and potential ones in Palestine,
Western China, Tibet and the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan
and Chechnya, rather than dwell on the past, which certainly has not
proven to be a lesson for the future.

101207.02O.mansour.243aa90.html

TURKEY PROTESTS US HOUSE COMMITTEE’S VOTE ON ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
By Dorian Jones

Voice of America
Oct 11 2007
Istanbul, Turkey

The vote in a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives calling
the massacre of Armenians in World War I by Ottoman Turks a genocide
has caused outrage in Turkey. The Bush administration opposed the
resolution, which is non-binding. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul
for VOA that Turkey has recalled its ambassador for consultations.

Turkey’s political leadership was quick to condemn the genocide
resolution that passed in the house foreign affairs committee.

Abdullah Gul (file) In a statement early Thursday, President Abdullah
Gul said U.S. politicians closed their ears to calls for reason
and once again sought to sacrifice big problems for small domestic
political gain.

In another statement, the government condemned the decision and said
it cannot accept being accused of something it has not done.

Later in the day, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry announced it has recalled
its ambassador to Washington, Nabi Sensoy, for consultations.

Protestors in Istanbul demonstrate against US Congressional
committee’s vote on Armenian genocide On the streets of Istanbul,
people expressed strong feelings against the committee’s resolution,
which is non-binding.

"We never make genocide in this land, never, never. I am just telling
truth," one man said. "They are just making politics, they are just
showing world, we are hooligans, we are bad people, we love the
genocide we love to kill. They are just showing the people like that.

That’s why I am angry."

Just before the U.S. vote, hundreds of people protested outside the
U.S. consulate in Istanbul. There was also a demonstration in the
capital, Ankara.

Feelings are running high in Turkey, both among political leaders
and the public.

Ankara does not deny that Armenians were killed, but says the killings
were a result of a civil war in which many Turks died as well.

Nineteen countries around the world have officially recognized the
massacre as a genocide.

The fact that the U.S., one of Turkey’s closest allies, is debating
the issue has led to a sense of betrayal here.

The U.S. Embassy has issued a security warning to American residents
in Turkey.

Pressure on the government in Ankara to retaliate if the
U.S. resolution is passed by the full House and the Senate could
become irresistible. Turkey has already warned President Bush of far
reaching consequences.

One of those consequences could involve American operations at the
Turkish air-base of Incirluk. The base is a logistical hub for U.S.

forces, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Government members and a source
within the Turkish Foreign Ministry have warned that support at the
base could be curtailed.

Bush can’t sway panel on Armenian genocide

By Associated Press | Thursday, October 11, 2007 |
| U.S. Politics

WASHINGTON – A U.S. congressional panel defied President Bush
yesterday and approved a measure to recognize the World War I-era
killings by Ottoman Turks of up to 1.5 million Armenians as a
genocide.

The bill is strongly opposed by Turkey, a key NATO ally that has
supported U.S. efforts in Iraq.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s 27-21 vote sends the bill to the
House floor. Bush had made a last-minute push to persuade lawmakers to
reject the measure.

"Its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in
NATO and in the global war on terror," Bush said.

Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), a Holocaust survivor who
backed a similar bill two years ago, this time warned of the potential
fallout if the proposal passed: "We have to weigh the desire to
express our solidarity with the Armenian people . . . against the risk
that it could cause young men and women in the uniform of the United
States armed services to pay an even heavier price than they are
currently paying," he said.

Turkey has raised the possibility of impeding U.S. military traffic
now using Turkish airspace. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
passing the measure "at this time would be very problematic for
everything we are trying to do in the Middle East."

But with the House’s first order of business yesterday, Speaker Nancy
Pelosi signalled support for Armenians, allowing Armenian Orthodox
Supreme Patriarch Karekin II to deliver the morning prayer: "With the
solemn burden of history, we remember the victims of the genocide of
the Armenians. Give peace and justice on their descendants."

Source: /view.bg?articleid=1037304

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS COMMEMORATED HOLOCAUST VICTIMS IN BOSTON

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.10.2007 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II laid a wreath
to the memorial to the Holocaust victims in Boston. His Holiness
Garegin II was accompanied by Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion
in Brookline, Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian, head of the U.S. Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Andrew Tarsy, New England
Anti- Defamation League Head.

His Holiness Garegin II and Rabbi Moshe Waldoks said recognition,
condemnation and prevention of such crimes should be resolute. "It
specifically important for Darfur, which is experiencing genocide at
the moment," they noted.

His Holiness Garegin II thanked former chairman of the Jewish community
of the U.S., James Kaufman, for his endeavors for humanity’s welfare,
the press office of Holy Echmiadzin reported.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA STRONGLY URGES HOUSE COMMITTEE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST PRESSURE FROM TURKEY

DeFacto Agency
Oct 10 2007
Armenia

The Armenian Assembly of America today strongly encouraged the members
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to approve H. Res.

106, which would affirm the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.

In a letter to the Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny asked the Members of the Congress
to affirm the truth and not to allow a foreign government to dictate
to the Congress. The government of Turkey has pressured President
Bush and Congress not to vote on the genocide measure – despite its
overwhelming bi-partisan support.

"These threats from Turkey are totally irresponsible and have no
place in this debate," said Ardouny. "No U.S. ally should withhold
vital support in the war against terror just because it doesn’t get
its way on Capitol Hill. Turkey has held the U.S. hostage on this
issue long enough."

Ardouny said that the Assembly was working vigorously for the passage
of H. Res. 106, including talking with lawmakers and staff, phone
banking and alerting its nationwide membership about the pending vote.

GENOCIDE BILL COULD HURT RELATIONS

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
Oct 9 2007

Passing a bill that recognizes the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians
as a genocide will strain Israel-Turkey ties, Turkey’s foreign
minister said.

Ali Babacan made the comments Monday just days after Turkey’s
president, Abdullah Gul, warned President Bush in a letter that Turkish
logistical support for U.S. troops in Iraq may be cut if the bill is
passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

The committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a bill that has the
support of 226 co-sponsors in the House.

Babacan told The Jerusalem Post that he believes American-Jewish and
Armenian groups are attempting to defame Turkey with their support
of the measure on the World War I killings.

Though Babacan believes Jewish groups in the United States support
the legislation, support has been slim. The Anti-Defamation League,
B’nai B’rith and the American Jewish Committee have described the
killings as being "tantamount to genocide" in an effort to ease
Israel’s strategic concerns over its relationship with Turkey and to
protect Turkey’s Jewish community.

WORLD-FAMOUS SCREENWRITER TONINO GUERRA IS AGAIN IN YEREVAN
Author: Ruzanna Bagratunian Editor: Khachatrian Haroutiun

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 8 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. One of the most prominent figures in
the world cinematography, legendary Italian screenwriter, dramatist,
painter, sculptor Tonino Guerra is in Yerevan. The Italian master has
arrived in Armenia with his constant companion, his wife Lora Guerra.

The couple had first arrived in Armenia in 2006, within the framework
of the Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) international film festival,
after which they got attached to Armenians. The Italian artist has
written screen versions for the most famous directors of the world
during his life. He knew Armenia just through the art of prominent
Armenian cinematographers.

"I think a travel to Armenia cannot be just a simple visit. I think
to travel to Armenia means to travel to the heaven." Tonino Guerra
expressed such an opinion about Armenia at a press conference held on
October 7 at the National Gallery of Armenia, dedicated to the start
of the cultural days under the title Tonino Guerra and His Friends.

"When I returned to Italy after my last visit I was constantly
speaking about Armenia for one year. Now I cannot precisely speak
about my feelings, but one can see them more clearly in my pictures."

Retrospective film showings will be organized, exhibitions and meetings
with Tonino Guerra and his friends will be held within the framework
of the cultural days being held on October 7-28, on the initiative
of the Goyak cultural association.

An exhibition of Tonino Guerra’s works created after his previous visit
to Armenia was opened the same day at the National Gallery. And an
exhibition of pictures of Marina Azizian residing in Saint Petersburg
was opened in the neighboring hall. The author of the latters has
seasoned them with fragments from Guerra’s poetry.