Author: Navasardian Karapet

OPEN LETTER TO THE ARLINGTON COMMUNITY

Arlington Advocate, MA
tyle/columnists/x514712737
May 1 2008

On November 27, 2007 the No Place for Hate Steering Committee sent the
Board of Selectmen a letter informing them of our withdrawal from the
No Place for Hate program. This withdrawal was in response to the Anti
Defamation League’s (ADL) position on the Armenian Genocide. We decided
that we would not be able to continue our involvement in the program
unless the ADL revisited its stance on the Armenian genocide. The
ADL did not revisit its decision and we withdrew from the program.

At the time of our withdrawal, the steering committee decided by a
unanimous vote to continue to work along with many other groups and
residents, to ensure that Arlington is a place that is welcoming to
all and where the diversity that each of us brings is celebrated
and mutually respected. Over the months following our withdrawal,
we looked at how we could continue our work outside the umbrella of
the No Place for Hate program, making certain that anyone who wants
to join us in this effort will feel welcome.

The Committee has been reformed under a new name, Arlington Common
Threads. We still are comprised of representatives from the Board
of Selectmen, town manager’s office, Arlington Police Department,
Arlington Public Schools, Human Rights Commission and several community
organizations. On March 30, we went before the Board of Selectmen to
ask for their formal endorsement of Arlington Common Threads. They
unanimously agreed.

Arlington Common Threads is committed to fostering a positive
understanding between residents of all ethnic, racial and religious
backgrounds. We are committed to working closely in cooperation with
and to help further the important work of the many boards, commissions
and community groups in town that are working on issues of acceptance
and diversity in Arlington.

Currently we have two major projects in the works. One is the
development of a Web site, which will be used to inform Arlingtonians
about events that represent the diversity of our town and to provide
information about groups that work on issues of acceptance and
diversity. The other project will be to develop a community-wide event
that explores in a positive venue the diversity of cultural heritage,
ethnic and religious backgrounds in the town of Arlington.

In order to be successful we are seeking volunteers to expand our
committee and help with our projects. Everyone is welcome to become
involved with Arlington Common Threads. We are looking for energetic
and committed volunteers from all parts of the Arlington community. To
learn more and to get involved please contact Cindy Friedman at
[email protected]. Any amount of time you are willing to give
is appreciated!

We would like to thank the Board of Selectmen and the police department
for their active encouragement of this committee. While we are no
longer affiliated with the No Place for Hate program, we are as
eager as ever to continue our work. Please join us as our community
works together to ensure a high level of respect for diversity and
anti-bias efforts, as well as maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for
hate crimes and incidents. With your help we know we can be successful.

Cindy Friedman Chairman of the Arlington Common Threads Annie
LaCourt Selectman Clarissa Rowe Selectman Lt Kenneth Hughes Arlington
Police Department Brian Sullivan Town Manager Pearl Morrison African
American Society of Arlington Patricia O’Donoghue Affirmative Action
Advisory Committee Theresa Aceto-Black Community at large Maria Hood
Community at large Caroline Osterman Community at large Bettie Connors
Disabilities Commission Miriam Stein Diversity Task Force Vita Cohen
Human Rights Commission Marlene Schultz Human Rights Commission Janice
Bakey Martin Luther King Committee Joe Curro School Committee Sharon
Grossman SPOT Mary Megson SPOT Jane Howard Vision 2020

TURKISH PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 301

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.04.2008 12:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish parliament Wednesday passed a
long-awaited amendment to a law penalizing insults to "Turkishness"
that has drawn strong EU criticism as a threat to free speech in
the country.

The amendment, softening article 301 of the penal code, was adopted
with the support of 250 MPs in the 550-member house at the end of
an eight-hour debate that started Tuesday afternoon and continued
throughout the night amid fierce opposition from nationalist deputies.

Under the amendment, "Turkishness" – a term criticized as too broad
and vague – was replaced with the "Turkish nation" and the envisaged
jail term decreased from three to two years, allowing the sentence
to be suspended or converted to a fine.

In a bid to make trials under the law more difficult, the provision
now requires the justice minister’s approval before prosecutors can
launch cases. Also, a section that called for increased sanctions
for such crimes committed abroad was removed from the law.

Dozens of intellectuals, including 2006 Nobel literature laureate Orhan
Pamuk, have been tried under article 301 and although some have been
convicted, – including slain ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink –
their sentences were suspended and no one has been jailed so far.

The article has mainly targeted people contesting the official line on
the World War I massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, which,
much to Turkey’s ire, many countries have recognized as Genocide.

The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, has long
criticized the law as a threat to freedom of speech.

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said during a visit to
Ankara earlier this month that the amendment plan was "a step in the
right direction."

The many critics of the article argue that the revision is inadequate
and the provision should be scrapped altogether from the penal code.

The EU has repeatedly warned Turkey that respect for free speech will
be a test of its commitment to align with the bloc’s democracy norms.

Meanwhile, Turkish opposition describes the motion as fawning upon
the European Union.

Turkey has so far opened accession talks in only six of the 35 policy
areas that candidates are required to complete amid a row over the
Mediterranean island of Cyprus and strong opposition to its membership
in some EU countries, the AFP reports.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISIAN RECEIVES BULGARIA’S AMBASSADOR

ARMENPRESS
April 29, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: President Serzh Sarkisian received
today Bulgaria’s’ ambassador to Armenia, Todor Staikov.

The government press office told Armenpress that the ambassador
conveyed to Serzh Sarkisian a congratulatory message from Bulgaria’s
president Georgy Pyrvanov and an invitation to pay an official visit
to Bulgaria.

Serzh Sarkisian underlined development of both traditional partnership
relations with Bulgaria and cooperation within the frameworks of
Armenia’s European policy.

He assessed highly the level of political bilateral dialogue, saying
also economic ties lag behind political contacts. The two sides
underscored then swift establishment of a bilateral inter-governmental
commission on economic cooperation.

They also referred to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s
ongoing war rhetoric. According to the Armenian president, by joining
the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan committed to resolve
all questions peacefully.

He also said the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have won their right to
live free and independently and added that it is impossible to ignore
the natural right of a people to strive for self-determination.

ARF SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS TO FIND SWIFT SOLUTIONS TO MANY PROBLEMS

ARMENPRESS
April 29, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Ara Nranian, a parliament member from
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), told a news conference
today that the government should undertake to find swift solutions
to an array of pressing problems if it wants to become the government
of national accord.

He said the government’s long-term goals may seem hard to be
implemented by a small country like Armenia, but according to him,
they can ensure an environment of public unity and solidarity.

He said the ARF stands ready to do everything in its power to help
archive these objectives. According to him, the focus should be on
creating health, tourism and educational center and repatriation of
ethnic Armenians to their homeland.

Ara Nranian then praised the new prime minister Tigran Sarkisian
for highlighting the role of skilled and seasoned professionals. He
said the new government fits into Tigran Sarkisian’s concept that
government officials should serve examples in all respects.

"The government should become a provider of quality services and not
simply holder of some functions and not everything should be handed
to private sector," he said.

He said the ARF remains an advocate of strong anti-corruption policy.

REMEMBERING THE DEAD
By Jason Wells

Glendale News Press, CA
April 24 2008

Armenian Genocide commemoration at the Alex urges people to look
forward, with an eye to the past.

Armenia’s past collided with its future Thursday night on a stage,
in a theater, in Glendale.

The more than 1,300 people who attended the city’s event at the Alex
Theatre commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
were confronted with a classic herald to the Eurasian country’s tragic
past through operatic overtures, while at the same time challenged
to maintain the momentum for international recognition of the genocide.

More than 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives between 1915 and
1918 in the former Ottoman Empire through either outright killings
or forced migration. Turkey’s government has refused to acknowledge
the genocide, contending the deaths occurred during a civil conflict.

Keynote speaker Carla Garapedian — who directed "Screamers,"
a documentary on the band System of a Down as it toured to raise
awareness of modern genocide — said the stateside diaspora had a
duty to hold politicians accountable and keep pressure on Congress
to pass a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

"We need to raise the bar for politicians who are making foreign
policy in our names," she told the audience.

"We must ask the hard questions, because if we don’t, who will?"

The genocide resolution, despite gaining a key endorsement from
the House Foreign Affairs Committee and obtaining signatures from
212 co-sponsors, hasn’t been brought for a full vote by the House
amid fears there isn’t quite enough congressional support to ensure
its passage. Many congressional representatives are wary of damaging
relations with Turkey, which is considered to be a strategic military
partner.

Even with the resolution’s pause, Armenian leaders say the amount of
international attention it has generated has helped keep the spotlight
on their efforts, which in of itself is considered progress.

Mayor John Drayman in his address to the audience said it was an
"understated disgrace" that Congress has so far refused to acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide as historic fact.

Inside the Alex Theatre, Garapedian’s calls for unity in support
of the genocide’s recognition, which dozens of governments have
already done, were a part of a larger picture of activism mixed with
commemoration. Pro-Armenian demonstrators protested Thursday outside
the Turkish embassy in Los Angeles, while thousands of Armenians
marched in Hollywood to commemorate the genocide’s anniversary.

But while Armenians will always look on the first genocidal event
of the 20th Century with horror, organizers of Thursday’s program at
the Alex wanted to show that "it’s not about crying anymore."

"We’re beyond that," said Jacob Parseghian, a member of the organizing
committee who through Artists For Kids produced the artistic program,
which saw world-renowned tenor Gegham Grigorian perform two classic
operatic solos against a 25-member orchestra.

Before the display of Armenia’s classic cultural heritage on stage,
Councilman Ara Najarian, chairman of the organizing committee, assured
the world that even in looking to the future for progress, the Armenian
community had not forgotten the mass killings, and never would.

"We have not forgotten what we went through," he said. "We have not
forgotten the genocide."

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF POLAND HELD SILENCE MARCH IN COMMEMORATION OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 20:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 24 April, the Armenian community of Poland held
the Silence March in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide victims
in Ottoman Empire in 1915

The peaceful march started at the Blessed Virgin Church and finished at
the Turkish Embassy. The action participants carried flags, posters
and candles.

Afterwards, speeches were made, a representatives of the Armenian
community told PanARMENIAN.Net.

At 8 p.m. a debate dedicated to Armenian genocide and its consequences
for the history of XX century will take place. The debate is organized
by the Civil Responsibility Foundation.

UAR CALLS ON AMBASSADORS TO BOYCOTT TURKISH EMBASSY RECEPTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 13:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Youth Association of the Union of Armenians
of Russia considers the April 24 reception at the Turkish Embassy
deliberate sacrilege and calls on ambassadors to boycott the event
outraging the memory of 1.5 million of innocent victims of the
Armenian Genocide.

PanARMENIAN.Net received the Association’s statement, which says,
"April 24 is the Day of Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. On
that very day the best sons of the Armenian nation were arrested
and brutally killed. Realizing their plan of ethnic cleansing,
the Turkish authorizes issued a decree on total extermination of
Armenians in their historical homeland – Western Armenia. Over 1.5
million of Armenians were slaughtered. Turks had no mercy for women,
children and elders. Those who survived found shelter in various
countries. The territory of Western Armenia, which 10 times exceeded
the territory of modern Armenia, remained deserted.

The international community condemned this outrageous crime against
humanity. State bodies of Russia, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland,
Belgium, Uruguay, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Ital, Argentina, Slovakia,
Poland and Venezuela recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Meanwhile, Turkey avoids responsibility for the crime it committed
93 years ago.

Genocide is a crime against humanity that doesn’t have time
limitation. Through condemnation only, we can prevent repetition of
such crimes.

Organization of a reception on April 24, the mourning day, is
nothing but sacrilege. We do call on you to refuse participation
in a provocative event meant to offend the memory of 1.5 million of
innocent victims."

The above mentioned reception is organized by the Turkish ambassador,
who is completing his mission in Russia.

CHANGES MADE IN STRUCTURE OF RA GOVERNMENT

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serge Sargsian signed a
decree on April 21 on making amendments and addenda to the March 16,
2002 decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the decree, the following changes have been made in the
structure of the RA Government:

1) The RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development has been renamed
as RA Ministry of Economics

2) The RA Ministry of Finances and Economics has been renamed as RA
Ministry of Finances

3) RA MInistry of Emergency has been created. It has been defined
that the Rescue Service of Armenia is a state body operating in the
governing sphere of the Ministry of Emergency

4) The agency of the Relations with the Diaspora of the RA Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has been reorganized into the State Committee of
the Relations with the Diaspora of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It has been ordered to the government of the Republic of Armenia
to make corresponding decisions following the given decree with a
one-month term.

According to the message provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, the government of the Republic of Armenia has the
following structure:

1. Ministry of Health

2. Ministry of Justice

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4. Ministry of Emergency

5. Ministry of Labour and Social Issues

6. Ministry of Environmental Protection

7. Ministry of Agriculture

8. Ministry of Economics

9. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources

10. Ministry of Education and Science

11. Ministry of Culture

12. Ministry of Defence

13. Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs

14. Ministry of Territorial Administration

15. Ministry of Transport and Communication

16. Ministry of Urban Development

17. Ministry of Finances.

GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 21 MILLION DRAMS FOR REPAIRS OF WATER PIPES IN 15-HECTARE AREA OF TSITSERNAKABERD MEMORIAL COMPLEX

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government has allocated
21 million drams for repairs of the water pipes in the 15-ha forest
area of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), the director of
the AGMI Hayk Demoyan said during the April 21 meeting with reporters.

According to him, the Forest Restoration Fund of Armenia has currently
restored 15 ha out of the 100-ha forest area of the museum, planting
10 thousand trees and bushes in this land. The whole forest area of
ecological importance to Yerevan will be restored stage by stage. The
AGMI director announced that the recreational zone and playgrounds of
the park will also be improved this year. The archeological studies
in the north-eastern section will allow to add a new page to the
city’s history.

TURKISH STATE MINISTER VISITS ARMENIAN ST ALL-SAVIOUR HOSPITAL’S OLD PEOPLE’S HOME

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

ISTANBUL, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Nimet Chubukchu,
the Turkish State Minister for Women’s and Families’ Affairs, visited
the old people’s home attached to the St All-Saviour Armenian hospital.

According to the reports of Turkish press, the State Minister spoke
to old people there.

"I feel very well here and like this place very much. I do not
consider visiting old people as my duty. That is, I do not come here
as a Minister," Chubukchu said.