Author: Nanijanian Alex

Sabah, Turkey
Jan 19 2008

Still dark after a year

The journalist Hrant Dink murdered last year on January 19th is
commemorated in front of Agos newspaper today. Dink’s relatives and
non-governmental organizations will lay carnations onto the field at
15.00.

Still dark after a year

The journalist Hrant Dink murdered last year on January 19th is
commemorated in front of Agos newspaper today. Dink’s relatives and
non-governmental organizations will lay carnations onto the field at
15.00.

A commemoration night will be held at 20.00 at Lütfi Kýrdar Congress
and Exhibition Center. Commemoration ceremonies will be held also in
Izmir and Diyarbakir. Dink will be commemorated at his grave at
Balýklý Armenian Cemetery. Dink’s family, relatives and eminent
figures of Armenian society will attend the ceremony there. Dink will
also be commemorated in many countries such as Armenia, the USA,
Germany, France, Britain and Canada. A street in France will be named
after Hrant Dink.

Fresno Bee , CA
Jan 20 2008

Saroyan in black and white

By Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Fresno Bee01/20/08 00:00:00

If you go

What: "Saroyan As Captured Through the Lens of Boghos Boghossian"
Where: Fresno City Hall, Tulare and P streets
When: Through Jan. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: (559) 243-5880

For all his fame as a writer, William Saroyan also cut a compelling
figure on film. In photographs, to be exact.

The dashingly handsome face of his youthful days aged into the
countenance that many Fresnans remember from the writer’s later years
in his native city. The longish hair. The drooping, walruslike
mustache. The long, wide sideburns. The deep, piercing eyes. The
serious look of an artist.

It’s that familiarity that makes a photo exhibit of Saroyan in
Armenia an interesting insightful slice of the writer’s life. The
40-plus black-and-white photos, displayed on the first and second
floors at City Hall, were taken by Boghos Boghossian.

They are from 1976 and 1978, when Saroyan visited his ancestors’
homeland. Boghossian, an award-winning photographer who was born and
lives in Armenia, went with him everywhere. Saroyan once wrote to
Boghossian: "For my friend, one of the great poets of the camera in
the world."

But more than just photographs, this exhibit — called "Saroyan As
Captured Through the Lens of Boghos Boghossian" — melds the two
Saroyan treks with the writer’s own words.

The curator of this display is Varoujan Der Simonian, who enjoys
photography as a hobby. He is president of the Armenian Museum of
Fresno and is executive director of the Armenian Technology Group, a
Fresno-based nonprofit group that provides support for Armenian
farmers.

Both organizations are presenting this exhibit, one of many events
marking the centennial year of Saroyan’s birth in Fresno. (Art
exhibits on City Hall’s first and second floors are coordinated by
the Fresno Arts Council.)

What does Der Simonian hope that visitors take away from this show?

"The human personality of Saroyan, his character," Der Simonian says.
"While he is in a crowd or away from Fresno, he is able to recall
moments of his life that have touched him and that he has written
stories of. It’s the sensitivity of the man, which probably has not
been so clear."

On the first floor, for example, is a page of short excerpts from the
story "Return to the Pomegranate Trees." Saroyan writes about the
pomegranate trees that a relative planted near Fresno, and that he
helped tend as young teenager in 1919 and 1920. Twenty-five years
later, he takes his 5-year-old son Aram for a drive and searches for
the trees. They are gone: "The whole place was taken over again by
the little burrowing animals, the horned toads, and the jack
rabbits."

The two drive to Sanger, where Saroyan shows Aram a pomegranate tree
and hands him a fruit that’s not quite ripe. They return to San
Francisco, and Aram keeps the small fruit. More than a month later,
they visit Fresno, and Aram wants to drive out to the land where his
father tended pomegranate trees. Once there, the boy glances around
and wordlessly and carefully places the fruit on the ground.

Now look at the photo, one of Der Simonian’s favorites in this show,
taken in 1976. Saroyan, dressed in a light-colored jacket and a dark
shirt, is looking upward, his left hand holding a small pomegranate.
"Look at his eyes. His mind is not there," Der Simonian says. "It’s
sad. It’s beautiful. … You can see the feelings in his eyes.
People, hopefully, can relate to it."

Another photo shows a completely different side of Saroyan. Der
Simonian titled it "Sam, the Highest Jumper of Them All." The 1978
shot shows a smiling Saroyan between two other authors, his arms
around their shoulders, his feet gleefully lifted off the ground.

Der Simonian says the exhibit will travel to other parts of the state
after Fresno.

The exhibit came about when Der Simonian and Boghossian met last
summer. Der Simonian knew of Boghossian and his work and had been
introduced to him through mutual friends. When Der Simonian saw the
extent of Boghossian’s photos of the Fresno writer, Der Simonian
asked whether he could put together a show. The photographer agreed
and also approved the approach of how each shot would be titled.

The pictures not only present contemplative photos of the writer but
also document how he was followed like a rock star by crowds of
college students and other admirers.

Larry Balakian, chairman of the William Saroyan Centennial Committee,
says it’s interesting how Saroyan is seen interacting with not just
writers but other artists in these photos, taken only a few years
before his death in 1981. He also says the comments he’s heard about
the exhibit have been "absolutely tremendous."

"It certainly takes you back to that period," Balakian says. "It
makes you feel like you’re there."

970.html

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 20 2008

Host or guest?

by AYSE KARABAT

In Turkish culture, fathers’ advice to their children is usually
unforgettable. Turkish mothers’ advice is usually about practical
matters of daily life, but when it comes to fathers it is a different
story. Usually the father’s bequeathing of advice is a ceremonial
event. The fathers sits as a representative of authority, he looks
into your eyes, speaks slowly — making sure not to say too much,
perhaps just a sentence — and leaves you alone to think.
My father did the same to my brother and I. There are only a few
pieces of advice that he gave to us. I kept all of it. But there is
one piece of advice from my father which, although I kept it, I was
never able to fully understand. He told us that to be a guest can be
nice, but to be the host is nicer and you should never go out to
dinner as a guest — even with your best friend — if you don’t have
enough money in your pocket to pay your portion of the bill.

I used to think that this advice had something to do with courtesy.
But, on the other hand, a piece of advice about courtesy would not
have warranted this patriarchal ceremony.

When I heard this advice a second time, I asked him why. His answer
was that even if you are with your best friend being able to pay your
own bill gives you freedom to speak and act. Not being a guest gives
you freedom. I had some difficulty understanding this.

In Iran, being a guest is quite different. Even in a restaurant,
after having your meal, when you ask for the bill the waitress will
most likely say, "It is on the house, you are guests." It happened to
me several times. Of course, as a customer you have to say, "Please,
I insist on paying." Once I asked a friend of mine who lived in Iran
for a long time, "What happens if you say, ‘thank you’ and just
leave?" He laughed and said, "They will run after you with the bill."
I had some difficulty understand this, as well.

To be a guest or a host in Western culture is also different and, if
must confess, it is sometimes surprising for me. The customs of
hospitality can raise eyebrows amongst us Turks. We have a tendency
to think that they are not giving us enough importance. When I
discussed this with a European friend of mine who is familiar with
Turkish culture he told me, "No, it is just because we want to make
our guests feel comfortable."

Here again, I had some difficulty understanding what he meant. When I
am together with Europeans, if I am the host, I am not sure about my
limits. For example, should I ask them to "please have some more" or
not? If I say it, will I be disturbing them? If I don’t say it, will
it be impolite? When I am a guest, should I wait to be offered?
Finally, after getting some experience, I decided to follow a
different pattern: If I am the host, I put everything in the middle
and say, "Please help yourself." If I am a guest, I take whatever I
want from the middle of the table. I think this leads to equality
between the host and the guest.

Recently a diplomat asked me if Turks like foreigners or not —
particularly European ones. After thinking for a while, I said, "Yes
and no, it depends on the situation." I had some difficulty
expressing what I meant.

This week, when we were holding an interview with Dr. Murat Paker, he
pointed out that, like all eastern cultures, we like guests. We try
to help them to such an extent that we run the risk of boring them
and overstepping our boundaries. But we are hospitable only if the
guests know that they are guests. If they try to be equal partners,
if they try to point out our shortcomings, we do not like them. As
long as they show gratitude to us as hosts, they are welcome.

According to him, there is a political side to this understanding: If
the foreigners are not telling us what to do or not to do, they are
most welcome. He added that in the sovereign political culture of
Turkey, not only foreigners but also Turkish Greeks and Turkish
Armenians are considered guests.

It was only at that moment that I was able to understand the value of
my father’s advice, the Western and Iranian style of being a guest
and host and my friend when he spoke of the Western sense of
equality. I remember a Turkish Greek friend of mine who immigrated to
Greece a long time ago. He told me that was not allowed to feel like
a host in Turkey or in Greece, but he did not feel like a guest,
either.

Our dear colleague Hrant Dink was a host, but he was slaughtered by
an ideology that thinks he was a guest overstepping the limits. We
should never give up our efforts for stopping this sick ideology,
because none of us are the hosts in this world and none of us are
guests, we are just here to share a very grand meal in coexistence
and peace.

Sun Star, Philippines
Jan 21 2008

Gorres-Darchinyan fight: It’s boxing skills vs power

IT IS going to be skills vs power when Filipino boxer Z "The Dream"
Gorres faces Armenian-born Vic Darchinyan on Feb. 2 at the Waterfront
Hotel Grand Ballroom in Cebu.

Sun.Star Network Online’s coverage of the Sinulog 2008 Festival

Gorres also has punching power, but the fists of "The Raging Bull"
definitely packs more wallop based on his fight record.

Darchinyan, the former world flyweight champion who is now based in
Australia, has a high knockout record of 23 in his 29 wins, while
absorbing only one defeat.

That was at the hands of Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr., who stopped
Darchinyan in the fifth round to win the world crown last July.

Gorres will enter the ring carrying a record of 27-2-1 with 15 KOs
and is currently the listed as No. 7 contender in the IBF. Gorres won
over Eric Ortiz of Mexico last August to win the IBF Intercontinental
super flyweight title.

The Gorres-Darchinyan fight is actually an eliminator, with the
winner earning the right to meet IBF super fly champ Dimitri Kirilov.

Darchinyan, who rose from that defeat to Donaire with a victory in
his last fight, is dying to become title-holder again and believes he
has the power to knock Gorres out in their coming Cebu encounter.

But, he is up against a tough opponent in Gorres, who was impressive
in his public sparring session days ago at the ALA Gym in Banilad,
Cebu.

"He’s ready to take on Darchinyan, ALA Gym boss Antonio L. Aldeguer
said of his ward after the workout. Gorres sparred against two
fighters, lightweight Glen Masicampo and bantamweight Gil Millegen.

The Gorres-Darchinyan bout is dubbed "Now or Never" and will be
covered by Solar Sports to be telecast in the Philippines and
Australia and by live Internet streaming around the world. (CRAM)

A TV DEBATE ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS (2)

KarabakhOpen
/index.php?lang=en&id=2&nid=7237
18-01-200 8 13:40:13

As it was expected, Armenia TV channel misrepresented the TV debate
on Armenian-Turkish relations between Armenia s ex-prime minister and
political leader Khosrov Harutunyan and political scientist Dr. Armen
Ayvazyan for Harutunyan s views. The debate was aired on January 15,
2008. Censors of the TV deleted parts of Dr. Ayvazyan s speech and
presented the debate in such a way that would incite the viewer to
accept Harutunyan s views on this issue.

This means to accept normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey
and open the borders without preconditions and to boost economic
relations between the two countries without considering basic
facts. Here, I mention examples of what the TV channel deleted from
Dr. Ayvazyan s speech that would prove what I have said above:

When Dr. Ayvazyan said he would read some excerpts from Azerbaijan
s president Ilham Aliyev’s Dec. 31 New Year s address in which
he threatens the Armenians of Artsakh Republic, the moderator,
Gevorg Altunyan, sarcastically asked Ayvazyan: "Does it mean
that you have listened to Aliyev’s speech instead of listening to
Kocharian’s speech," at which Ayvazyan replied that he followed
both speeches. This as well as the excerpts from Aliyev’s address
(see below) were left out.

Although the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire in 1915 were integrated
into empire s economy, the scheme of the Armenian Genocide was
carried out.

Although Soviet Armenia s economy was integrated with Soviet Azerbaijan
s economy, neither the Armenian Genocide and pogroms in Sumgait,
Baku and other places inhabited by the Armenians, nor the war between
Azerbaijan and Artsakh republics was prevented.

The preconditions put by Turkey to set up normal relations with
Armenia, among which the delivery of Artsakh to Azerbaijan and
giving up the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide by Armenia
and Diaspora. Recently, they even called for removing the Armenian
Genocide memorial in Armenia and recognizing the genocide of Turks
by Armenians!! Also, they put the condition of taking Meghri region
out of Armenia s control and stopping Armenia s support for PKK,
besides other preconditions.

Excerpts from Ilham Aliyev s New Year s address on Dec. 31, 2007<2>

We will never allow the creation of a second Armenian state on
Azerbaijani soil, .

If the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh want to self-determine, they
should do that within the framework of Azerbaijan s territorial
integrity. If they don t want that, they should leave Nagorno-Karabakh
and create their second state elsewhere, .

Nagorno-Karabakh will never be granted independence, the leadership
and the people of Azerbaijan will never agree to that,

We are reinforcing our army because we must be ready to free our
lands of occupiers at any moment and by any means, .

The strengthening of the army will remain a top priority, .

It is obvious, that misrepresenting the debate and turning a blind
eye to basic facts and Turkey-Azerbaijan s threats to Armenia and
Artsakh republics would benefit foreign agendas, for sure not in the
sake of the Armenian people.

V. Kazimirov: it is necessary to think over how to use ‘window of
impossibility’ of 2008 to settle Karabakh conflict

2008-01-14 20:13:00

ArmInfo. There were talks in 2006 that a ‘window of possibility’ is
provided. Now, it is necessary to think over how to use the ‘window of
impossibility’ of 2008 to achieve settlement of Karabakh conflict,
former co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, Vladimir Kazimirov told ArmInfo.

He believes that one must be very brave to expect any breakthrough in
2008. ‘It is connected with the election campaigns not only in Armenia
and Azerbaijan, but also in Russia and USA. Moreover, there is a
problem of Kosovo. After all, there is stalemate in the negotiations
because, as I know, the parties are progressing in some issues, but the
backbone issues remain complicate for settlement. I will be glad if
there are breakthroughs in 2008, but one should not rely on it so far’,
the diplomat said.

RA Foreign Minister, EU Special Representative discuss a number of
regional issues

armradio.am
14.01.2008 14:59

January 14 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with the EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semenby.

At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Semneby presented his assessment of
the post-election developments in Georgia, noting that the European
Union expressed its position with a statement and continues to follow
the developments in the country. The interlocutors attached importance
to the reinforcement of stability in Georgia as a guarantee of the
country’s development, as well as the continuity of regional programs.

The parties also turned to the presidential elections in Armenia,
underlining that the conduct of the elections corresponding to
international standards will promote the deepening of cooperation with
the European Union.

The parties exchanged views on the negotiations on Karabakh settlement,
discussed the ways of EU involvement in the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, other regional issues.

A1+

SERZH SARKISIAN: `DEMOCRACY HAS NO ALTERNATIVE’
[06:29 pm] 14 January, 2008

`Armenia should become a mighty and democratic
country with efficient governance focusing on a human
being and his inevitable rights as key elements of the
country.’ This is a quotation from presidential
candidate Serzh Sarkissian’s pre-election programme.

The Armenian Premier holding different top-ranked
positions for the past 16 years today promises a
dignified life. `Armenia will have authorities
enjoying people’s confidence. Everybody will exercise
equal rights stipulated by the law. No artificial
barriers will be set up between the state and
citizens. There will be no privileged and
underprivileged in the country we are striving for.
People will live in mutual respect, love and
indulgence. Education should be high-priority for the
country.’

Serzh Sarkissian will fulfill his promises after
winning the presidential election.

The programme introduced by the Armenian Premier
consists of eight pages.

Edward Sharmazanov says that the programme highlights
the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in
Armenia meeting democratic standards. `We must do our
best to start a tradition of democratic elections in
the country,’ the Spokesman of Serzh Sarkissian’s
pre-election headquarters told A1+.

`The PM’s stance over the Karabakh issue has remained
unchanged over the past five years.

Vazgen Sargsian, Andranik Margarian and Serzh
Sarkissian held the same stance in view of the
Karabakh conflict. Firstly, Atrsakh’s right to
self-determination must be recognized world-wide.
Secondly, we should ensure security of NKR borders and
residents. And thirdly, NKR and Armenia should have a
common frontier to avert NKR’s conversion into an
enclave,’ Sharmazanov says.

We shall not compromise over these tangible issues.
The PM’s programme also highlights strengthening of
multi-lateral relations within the framework of
Euro-integration, balanced collaboration with the
Russian Federation, USA and European countries. The
core of the programme is the motto, `democracy has no
alternative,’ Sharmazanov concluded.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING

Lragir
Jan 10 2008
Armenia

The Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE will endorse the nomination
of Mikhail Margelov, the Russian delegate, as president of the PACE,
Gyultekin Hajiyeva, member of the Azerbaijani delegation, told News
Azerbaijan.

The president of the PACE is nominated by the caucuses of the Assembly
in turn. Now the parliamentary group of European Democrats led by
Margelov nominates president, however his chance for election became
small after the latest election to the Russian Duma. The problem is
that Russia refused to sign Protocol 4 of the European Convention on
Human Rights, paralyzing the European Court of Human Rights. Now the
PACE is said to be likely to stipulate Russia to sign Protocol 4 of
the European Convention for the election of Margelov.

However, the member of the Azerbaijani delegation said for them
Margelov is an acceptable candidate, a friend, and his election is
in Azerbaijan’s interests, therefore the Azerbaijani delegates will
support his nomination.

The stance of the Armenian delegation goes without saying because
even if our delegation were eager, it would not vote against Russia’s
candidate in such a crucial period when the question of government
is being solved in Armenia, even though the Russian delegation to
the PACE has voted for a number of anti-Armenian bills. However, it
is Russia’s business, whereas voting for Russia is Armenia’s business.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

January 10, 2008
Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR to Help Educate Thousands on Armenian Heritage Cruise

— Many Cruise Participants Hail from the State of California and Western US

Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Western Region
(ANC-WR) is pleased to report that its Executive Director Antranig
Kzirian will join with the ANC-ER Executive Director Karine Birazian
and ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian on the 11th
Annual Armenian Heritage Cruise to provide educational briefings
during the week of January 14, 2008. Kzirian, Birazian and
Karakashian will provide briefings to thousands of Armenian Americans
set to cruise the high seas later this month.

"It is an honor to join ANCA leaders like Raffi and Karine on the
Armenian Heritage Cruise," stated Kzirian. "I look forward to working
with my counterparts in the Eastern Region and the National Office in
Washington, DC to educate Armenian Americans on the important
initiatives the ANCA has and will continue to undertake," he added.

Kzirian will be participating in a "Cruise out of Congress" rally set
to take place in Boca Raton, Florida on January 12th that will focus
media attention on genocide denier Congressman Robert Wexler
(D-FL-19). On Monday, January 14th he will join Birazian and
Karakashian in providing an executive briefing on all facets of the
ANCA’s work on national, regional and local levels. On Tuesday,
January 15th the ANC staffers will visit with Puerto Rico Territory
Senator Juan Hernandez Mayoral to raise awareness of community
activities. In October of 2007 Hernandez publicly supported the
Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106) and strongly criticized
Representative Fortuno (R-PR-AL) for his flip-flop on the resolution.
Finally, on January 16th the group will visit the office of
Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI-AL) in the U.S. Virgin
Islands. All activities will focus closely on raising awareness on
issues of concern to Armenian Americans.

In addition to advancing the Armenian Cause on the cruise, Kzirian
(who plays the oud and guitar) will be performing with a traditional
ensemble of Armenian American folk musicians to provide entertainment
to attendees.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.