Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

One thousand gather to condemn the assassination of Hrant Dink

ArmRadio.am
25.01.2007 16:55

A crowd of more than 1 000 gathered opposite the Turkish Mission to the
United Nations on Tuesday evening in a tremendous outpouring of grief
and anger over the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. The vigil
was organized by the Armenian National Committees of New York and New
Jersey, with participation from area Armenian organizations as well
as a small number of progressive Turkish activists and intellectuals.

The event began with opening remarks by Herand Markarian of the ANC.

Speaking in Armenian, Markarian stressed that Dink’s murder was an
affront not only to Armenians, but to all those who stand for democracy
and justice. "We are all Hrant Dink," Markarian pronounced, echoing
mourners at Dink’s funeral in Turkey. Markarian also noted the presence
of hostile demonstrators approximately 50 young Turkish zealots who had
assembled across the street from the vigil. In their attempt to disrupt
the proceedings, these men loudly chanted "Armenian lies" and other
hateful slogans and obscenities, leading Markarian to remark, "This
is the culture of hate and intolerance we are up against today. We
cannot allow such vile provocations to deter us from seeking justice."

Markarian’s comments drew a loud, energetic response from the crowd.

Markarian then invited Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder and New
York radio personality, to the podium. Sliwa forcefully condemned
Dink’s murder and repeated his solidarity with Armenian demands,
noting that such acts were likely to continue until Turkey comes to
terms with its past.

Sliwa’s remarks were met with loud applause from those assembled.

The program continued with remarks by Antranig Kasbarian of the ANC.

Speaking in English, Kasbarian noted that Dink was not an extremist,
but a proponent of dialogue and moderation. In this vein, Dink’s murder
becomes all the more heinous, indicating Turkey’s extreme intolerance
of any moves toward change. Kasbarian emphasized that this was not an
isolated act, but the result of Turkey’s ongoing policies of denial
and suppression of dissent. "We all know this crime doesn’t end with a
17-year-old extremist. When the murderer says he isn’t sorry, and that
Hrant Dink deserved to be murdered, then the true culprit is official
Turkish culture which breeds hate and intolerance," Kasbarian noted.

"We shouldn’t look for hidden agendas in describing this killing.

The agenda is clear for all to see."

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, then led a brief prayer while flowers were distributed to
attendees. After brief introductory words, Archbishop Choloyan led
the group in prayer while counter-protesters continued to attempt to
denigrate the proceedings. They were eventually drowned out by the
large crowd.

Participants then laid flowers before a candle-lit platform in
Dink’s memory.

NO COMPULSORY MEASURES ADDS TO VIOLENCE OF PUBLIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

Yerevan, January 25. ArmInfo. The verdict of the Constitutional Court
(CC) of Armenia, dated Oct. 4, 2006, is being violated by state and
private bodies of the republic. As per the verdict, the 2nd part of
11 law "On Social Security Cards" is announced unconstitutional.

However, people are required to present a social card when filling
in a social, bank or other documents.

Press service of the Central Bank told ArmInfo correspondent that
social cards are requested according to tax regulations. Minister of
Trade and Social Security said that social cards should be presented
when assigning a pension, salary and other payments as well as when
opening a bank account and when paying taxes.

ArmInfo regards it as contradictive to the verdict on the law on social
cards. ArmInfo correspondent was told that compulsory measures must
be applied in case of failure to fulfill decisions of the CC.

"But however," the official went on – "there is no body of compulsory
measures for fulfillment CC’s regulations in Armenia yet."

The top absurd statement of the official was the demand to present an
official document on the absence of the social card if there is none.

Report on Armenia’s PACE commitments discussed

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 24 2007

[ 24 Jan. 2007 14:02 ]

The discussion of 11117th report on honoring of obligations and
commitments was discussed in the plenary meeting of PACE yesterday,
APA correspondent in Strasbourg reports.

The report worked out by PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs on
Armenian Georges Colombier, Mikko Elo was discussed in the meeting.

35 parliamentarians took part in the discussion as it was 30 minutes
left to the end of the meeting. Georges Colombier began his statement
with the positive points of the ongoing processes in Armenia. He
noted that necessary conditions were created for Armenia to fulfill
its commitments in the field of human rights, democratic development
and legislation. He highly estimated holding elections to Irevan
Major’s Office, the possibility of appealing to Constitution Court
and establishment of Commissioner Institute on Human Rights. The
co-rapporteur also noted that there are problems in election system and
forging of the results of referendums on constitution. He mentioned
that there is no mechanism in the country to punish the ones who
falsify the results of the elections and it put the results under
doubt. Generally, French parliamentarian did not utter any serious
shortcomings. Other co-rapporteur Mikko Elo made his speech wholly on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He estimated the conflict as the biggest
obstacle for the peace and stability in the region.

"But we did not stand on this issue in our report. Sub-committee
on Nagorno Karabakh have assigned on this purpose. The meeting of
the presidents held on November 28 last year justified hopes for the
settlement of the conflict. The settlement of the conflict serves the
interests of both sides. PACE with the assistance of Sub-committee
on Nagorno Karabakh will try to help to negotiations processes. We
will support the continuation of dialogue between the countries on
the level of parliaments as well as with Karabakh people.

As the discussions began late, out of 20 men registered in the
list, 7 made speech. Three of them were parliamentarians of Armenian
Parliament and one was the member of French parliament, pro-armenian
Fransua Roshebloun. Though 5 members of the Azerbaijani delegation
were included in the list, they were not given the floor. Only
Armen Roustamyan, Armenian parliamentarian touched upon Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. He said that Armenia’s position on Nagorno Karabakh
coincides with the commitments presented in the CE documents. He blamed
Azerbaijan for frustrating the process of negotiations and mentioned
the importance of Nagorno Karabakh’s participation in the dialogues.

"Azerbaijan’s position on this problem is obvious, they want to
possess Karabakh, which was once presented to them by Stalin," he said.

Other speeches were mostly devoted to the processes ongoing in
Armenia. Armenia proposed only three amendments to the resolution
and these amendments were accepted. The draft resolution was approved
32-1 with 2 abstaining. APA correspondent in Strasbourg said that the
members of the Azerbaijani delegation were generally dissatisfied
with the discussions. Member of the Azerbaijani delegation Rafael
Huseynov considers that the meeting more resembled meeting of Armenian
parliament, rather than of the PACE.

"The time, content and process of the discussions were organized so
that it more resembled the meeting of Armenian parliament. No one
from the Azerbaijani delegation was given the floor. I am sure that
it happened under the influence of Armenian lobby and forces connected
with the Armenian delegation. Chronologically, we were to make speech
first. Two days before the assembly I looked through the list in the
APCE secretariat, my name was the first in the list. But later, only
Roustamyan, Torosyan, Demirchiyan and pro-armenian parliamentarian
from France Roshebloun made speech. It was planned. I openly accuse
the CE secretariat and we will present written accusation to the
CE. Besides, only 40 minutes were allotted for the discussion of
the very important issue. Actually, the meeting resembled Armenian
parliament and Armenia’s commitments were not discussed, but the
discussions were imitated," he said. /APA/

An ominous slaying of a Turkish journalist

Allentown Morning Call, PA
Jan 24 2007

Last year was the worst on record for news media casualties, according
to the International News Safety Institute: 167 journalists and 30
other news-gathering personnel died while trying to do their jobs
in 37 countries. The most recent, prominent example of a journalist
deliberately attacked for exercising freedom of the press occurred on
Friday in Istanbul, when Hrant Dink was shot dead outside the office
of his bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly newspaper, Agos.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the shooting:
"A bullet was fired at freedom of thought and democratic life in
Turkey." Several thousand people marched from Mr. Dink’s newspaper
office to Taksim Square on Friday to protest. By Sunday, Turkish
news agencies reported the arrest of a teenage Turkish gunman who
reportedly gave prosecutors an extensive confession. However, the
teen might have been just a part of a conspiracy; at least 10 other
suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

Lehigh Valley Local Links

Mobile News | Subscribe Online | Order Reprints There are several
complicated layers to this story, in addition to the loss of a
journalist with the courage to speak his mind on controversial
topics. Turkey has long refused to use the term "genocide" to describe
the deaths of Armenians beginning in 1915. Mr. Dink counted himself
among a growing number of Turks who want the government to admit that
leaders of the Ottoman Empire had directed the slaughter of Armenians,
and who want Turkey to become a full democracy.

The death of Mr. Dink might mobilize his supporters, who seek the
repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code. Article 301 places
restrictions on a free press. Mr. Dink was convicted in 2005 of
insulting the Turkish identity in some of his articles and he received
a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Turkey must agree to a series of democratic reforms if it is to be
allowed to join the European Union. European resistance to Turkish
membership is growing, and the death of Mr. Dink will only fuel that
fire. Ironically, Mr. Dink viewed entry into the European Union as
the best way to strengthen democracy in Turkey.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT TO TELL ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ABOUT RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN
RELATIONS

Yerevan, January 24. ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
arrived in Sochi to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Wednesday.

The meeting of the Russian and Armenian leaders will be held in the
residence. Yesterday, V.Putin held negotiations with Chancellor of
Germany Angela Merkel in Sochi. According to V.Putin’s entourage, the
negotiations with R.Kocharyan will proceed in a friendly atmosphere,
as in 2007 no conflict issues are planned for discussion. In 2006,
in Sochi, the Russian President informed R.Kocharyan about increasing
the price for the Russian gas – from $56 to $110 per 1 thsd cubic
meters. The development of investment cooperation, the work of
the CIS, the settlement of the territorial dispute with Azerbaijan
on Nagorno-Karabakh are to be discussed in 2007. Besides, Sergey
Prikhodko, Assistant to the Russian President, told RIA Novosti that
V.Putin is ready to tell the Armenian President about the development
of the Russian- Georgian relations. R.Kocharyan is interested in
Russia’s relations with Georgia as the latter is Armenia’s neighbor,
S.Prikhodko said.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
January 23, 2007
Six Armenian Children from Iraq Arrive in Calcutta

>>From January 14-21, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II,

Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, Manager
of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta and
parish priest of the Armenian community of India, traveled to Jordan
and Iraq to secure the safe travel of six Armenian children from
Baghdad to Calcutta (Kolkata), India, to enroll in the Armenian
College.

After arriving at Baghdad International Airport, due to ongoing
security concerns, Fr. Oshagan was denied entry to the capital city
of Iraq by the authorities and he was forced to return to Jordan. 
Nevertheless, the children were able to travel to Jordan through
the combined efforts of Archbishop Avak Assadourian (Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Iraq), Fr. Oshagan and their parents.

Upon their arrival in Jordan, Fr. Oshagan met the new students of
the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy and escorted them
to Calcutta.  The parents of the children have expressed their
deep gratitude and appreciation to His Holiness Karekin II and the
management and administrators of the Armenian College for providing
this opportunity to their sons at this very difficult and dangerous
time for Iraq.

The Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta was
established in 1821.  It has been under the care and authority of
the Catholicos of All Armenians since 1999.

##

–Boundary_(ID_bmlW6A2el4SeRq6NFyQDlQ)- –

PACE winter session begins today

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 22 2007

[ 22 Jan. 2007 15:53 ]

Winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
begins today in Strasbourg, France, APA European bureau reports.

The main issue on the agenda of the session is the situation in
Kosovo and children’s rights. The delegation led by Samad Seyidov
will represent Azerbaijan in the session to last till January 26. The
head of the delegation Samad Seyidov told the APA correspondent in
Strasbourg that though there is no point directly connected with
Azerbaijan on the agenda, there are issues interesting for Azerbaijan.

"Among these issues we can mention the discussion of Armenia’s
commitments of the PACE, as well as the discussion of the report on
missing people in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia prepared by Leo
Platvoet in the meeting of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and
Population. Besides, the meeting of Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh
will be held according to resolution #1416. Exchange of views will
be held between the heads of the delegations of both countries and
the co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan and Armenian will participate in
the meeting," he said.

Samad Seyidov said that Azerbaijani delegation has thoroughly prepared
for the session.

"I think that the delegation will actively participate in the
session. The decisions to be held in the Monitoring Committee on
Azerbaijan’s fulfilling commitments are more important for us,"
he said.

Constantinople Patriarch Varfolomey I will make speech on cultures
and religions in today’s meeting, the issues on narcotism and sexual
violation in Europe will be discussed, the CE Secretary General Terry
Davis will make speech and hold press conference. The discussion of
the relations between Russia and Georgia has been removed from the
agenda. The reason is that the ambassador withdrawn from Georgia
by Russia returned to Tbilisi. The co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring
Committee on Russia and Georgia are assigned to observe the relation
between the two countries and to make a report in April session on
it. /APA/

Dink Murder Proves Turkey’s Incapability to Reconsider Dark Pages of Her History

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2007 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On behalf of the Russian people we condemn
the assassination of Hrant Dink in Istanbul, says the joint
statement received by PanARMENIAN.Net from the Association of the
Russian-Armenian Friendship, the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth and
"Ararat" Armenian Cultural and Enlightening Society.

"We think that the murder was committed as result the state denial
policy of Genocide denial, systematic incitement of hatred against
Armenians and infringement of rights of national minorities
in Turkey. The murder is the barbarian conclusion of political
persecutions of the Turkish Armenian journalist for his dissent. This
crime proves Turkey’s incapability to reconsider the dark pages of
her history and have a place in the community of civilized states,"
the document says.

The following event, which was in our Thursday 01/18/07 Calendar
has been CANCELLED.

=================================== ======
What: "The Armenian Genocide: Demographic Policy and Ethnic
Cleansing of Anatolia, 1913-1918."
Public Lecture: Taner Akcam, Visiting Associate Professor
Department of History, University of Minnesota
When: Jan 22 2007 7pm
Where: 370 Dwinelle Hall, University of California, Berkeley
Misc: Sponsored by: the Armenian Studies Program, the Institute of
Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, and the Doreen B.
Townsend Center for the Humanities, UC Berkeley.
Online Contact: [email protected]
Tel: 510-643-6 737

Agence France Presse — English
January 20, 2007 Saturday

Anger in Armenia at Turkey over journalist death

Armenians at home and abroad hammered Turkey Saturday following the
killing of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in
Istanbul.

"Turkish authorities should have guaranteed the security of Dink. He
had received many threatening letters and had told police about
them," said the Aikakan Dzhamanak (Armenian Times) newspaper.

The Aravot (Morning) daily said: "Turkey’s ability to become a
civilised, reformed country and its readiness to integrate with
Europe are in serious doubt."

Dink, who was hated by Turkish nationalists for his views on the
massacres of Armenians under Turkish rule during World War I, was
shot dead outside his office in Istanbul on Friday.

"The murder of Dink is not only aimed at freedom of speech," said a
statement from the youth movement of the Armenian nationalist party
Dashnaktsutyun.

"It is also a sign of the renaissance of anti-Armenian hysteria in
the country (Turkey), which carried out a genocide against Armenians
at the beginning of the last century."

Some 100 of the group’s militants gathered outside the European Union
mission in Yerevan, where they lit candles and laid carnations in
front of Dink’s portrait.

The press service of the Armenian Church said a special memorial
service for Dink would be held Sunday in all Armenian churches,
including the main cathedral of Echmiadzin.

"Dink’s untimely death has shocked all of us. We condemn this murder,
which took away a talented and brave son of his people, with profound
indignation," Armenian patriarch Karekin II said in a statement.

Outside of Armenia, there are many Armenian churches spread across
Europe, the Middle East and the United States, attended by a large
diaspora of ethnic-Armenians.

In France hundreds of members of the Armenian community gathered near
the Turkish embassy in Paris, carrying flags and portraits of the
journalist, while police kept them away from the building.

"The Turkish authorities bear the primary guilt for their prosecution
of this human rights activist," the head of the council of Armenian
organisations in France, Alexis Govciyan, said.

Ara Toranian, editor of the monthly magazine Nouvelles d’Armenie,
said the Turkish state and its "obtuse leadership" were responsible,
adding that Dink was "the latest victim" of the Armenian genocide.

Hundreds more protestors rallied at the Turkish consulate in
Marseille.

Armenian analysts said the killing would have little impact on ties
between Turkey and neighbouring Armenia, which have been effectively
frozen since the fall of the Soviet Union.

"I don’t think the killing will lead to any major changes in
Turkish-Armenian relations," said Alexander Iskandarian, director of
the Caucasus Media Institute in Yerevan.

"Those who were against opening the border with Turkey will say that
a Turk is still a Turk, Turkey is still a dangerous neighbour and the
border shouldn’t be opened," Iskandarian said.

"Those in favour of opening will say that such things happen
everywhere."

The 355-kilometre (221-mile) border between the two countries was
closed in 1993 at the height of the Nagorno-Karabakh war in which
ethnic-Armenian separatists in Azerbaijan took over almost a fifth of
Azerbaijani territory.

Armenia backed the separatists, while Turkey supported Azerbaijan.

In recent months, Armenian government ministers have expressed the
hope that diplomatic relations will be restored with Turkey and the
border reopened in order to boost trade and transport potential in
the region.

Views in Turkey and Armenia over the killings of ethnic-Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire during World War I are still deeply divided.

Armenians say that up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered
between 1915 and 1918 and want the massacres to be internationally
recognized as genocide.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000 Armenians
and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians took
up arms for independence.