Author: Talalian Arpi

ARMENIAN SHIP TO SAIL FROM LONDON TO SAINT PETERSBURG

Armenpress
May 10 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Andranik Margarian
received today the crew of a ship replicated from a medieval vessel
of Armenian merchants from Cilicia Kingdom who are flying later this
month to London to continue the third leg of their voyage.

In the course of the first and second stages of their voyage the crew
visited Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece,
Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus and Italy, France and Great Britain. On
May 28 the Armenian ship will head for French Calais and from there
towards the Baltic Sea and to the Russian Saint Petersburg. Then
it will sail to the Black Sea and from there will be transported to
Armenian Lake Sevan.

The idea of constructing this ship was conceived by members of the
Ayas Nautical Research Club. It is an exact replication of a 13-th
century merchant ship, and was built in accordance with medieval
shipbuilding technologies.

The crew are a musician, engineer, doctor, signaler, film director,
cameraman. Age of the crew also varies from 20 to 60.

Turkey recalls envoys over Armenian genocide

CTV.ca News Staff
05/08/2006

Turkey has recalled its envoys to Canada and France in protest of a decision
by both countries to recognize the massacres of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians during the early 20th century as genocide.
Osman Korutuk, Turkey’s ambassador to France, and Aydemir Erman, the
ambassador in Ottawa, will be recalled “for a short time for consultations
over the latest developments about the baseless allegations of Armenian
genocide,” in the two countries, said Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman
Namik Tan.
They will return to their posts following the consultations, he added.
The move comes amid mounting international pressure for Ankara to recognize
the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during 1915 and 1923, as
genocide
The trial came at a particularly sensitive time for the nation, which
recently joined EU membership talks and continues to draw criticism for
human rights and laws that stifle freedom of speech.
The European Union has said Turkey’s bid to seek membership could be
hindered by the claims of genocide.
Both the International Center for Transitional Justice and the Association
of Genocide Scholars have recognized the massacre as genocide, as has the
United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection
of Minorities.
In 1985, the UN agency listed cases of genocide in the 20th century, among
those “the Ottoman massacre of Armenians in 1915-1916.”
But Turkey has long upheld a position of denial, saying the mass killings
were not a systemic genocide, but part of broader ethnic clashes as
Armenians sided with Russia during the First World War.
Turkey recently criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper after he said his
government continued to recognize motions adopted by the Canadian senate and
parliament acknowledging that the genocide took place.
Canada recognized the genocide in a 2004 private member’s bill in the House
of Commons.
Turkey has also recently warned France not to pass a draft law which would
make denial of the Armenian genocide a crime subject to a one-year jail term
and a 45,000-euro (More than $63,000 Cdn) fine.
When French legislators formally recognized the Armenian genocide in 2001,
Turkey cancelled millions of dollars worth of defence contracts.
The Turkish news media have also speculated that Canadian and French
companies would be barred from bidding on the construction of a planned
nuclear power plant which Turkey hopes to build in the Black Sea coastal
town of Sinop.
Several other countries, including Argentina, Poland, and Russia, have
declared the killings a genocide, and there is strong pressure from
Armenians worldwide for the U.S. Congress to recognize the massacres as
genocide as well.
In the past few years, a few lone Turkish voices have joined international
critics in condemnation of Ankara’s position.
The country’s best-known and internationally acclaimed novelist Orhan Pamuk
went on trial on charges of insulting his country’s national character after
he told a Swiss newspaper that Turkey was unwilling to deal with two of the
most painful episodes in its recent history: the massacre of Armenians and
recent guerrilla fighting in Turkey’s overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast.
In January, a Turkish court dropped those criminal charges against Pamuk,
who is an often-mentioned candidate for the Nobel Prize in literature, but
the nationalist lawyer who pushed for the trial has said he would appeal the
court decision.

IT IS ALLOWED TO THREATEN THE JOURNALIST
Naira Mamikonian

Aravot.am
04 May 06

Let them take it easy.

I received a phone call from a “locked number” on my mobile phone
at the end of February. I didn’t know the person who was phoning me
and who dared not say his name but dared threaten me. First of all he
specified my identity then cursed and threatened me; “When you write
about people personal information, don’t you think…” He said and
ringed off. I found out the phone number in short time. The identity of
the person who has phoned from the mobile phone served by “ArmenTel”
was known as Zarzand Nikoghosian. But it isn’t known what connection
he can have with my any publication. Anyway I tried to phone back by
that phone number some days ago but he didn’t answer. Later an old man
answered in dialect that the number was his own for more than 5 months
and there was no Zarzand there. I didn’t believe but I also didn’t
seek because I had warned that man that I had been threatened from
that number and intended to turn to law keepers. The governor of Syunik
Surik Khachatrian invited me 1-2 days later. It became clear that the
necessity of meeting connected with a publication about the governor
of Syunik printed in “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper. According to
Surik Khachatrian that article was written under my editorship but by
other signature. It became clear for me only lately why Mr. Khachatrian
harried up to meet me.

The point is that S. Khachatrian’s bodyguard Zarzand mentioned in
the publication about shootings in ”Tigran Mets” restaurant in
Goris is that same Zarzand Nikoghosian who threatened me. And the
reason of the necessity to meet me was that he had understood that
law keepers can interfere and it can cause additional turmoil.

By the way S. Khachatrian himself affirmed that Zarzand had threatened
me introducing clarity; ”He has cursed you once”. Certainly I
wasn’t expecting such a confession so I asked whether he knew about
that phone. “We had a conversation after our meeting and that guy
said sincerely that he was told that you had written that article,
that’s why he had cursed you. But then that information was denied”, –
Mr. Khachatrian elucidated adding that he didn’t know about the phone
number beforehand which is very doubtful. It is obvious that as the
bodyguard Zarzand dared not say his name as well as Mr. Khachatrian
dared not declare that Zarzand had decided to threaten the journalist
by his command. S. Khachatrian even tried to console me; ”Take it
easy”. Will the law keepers reply to such a behavior, perhaps,
no. As policemen and criminals collaborate with each other. It’s
also obvious that there is no trial that just these persons are the
support of police, there are the elite of our country.

Other bodyguards-skinheads like Zarzand will be necessary if not
using violence on journalists, breaking cameras, but for supporting
the authorities during the elections.

–Boundary_(ID_ml9IQbt/9fURdTdXA5U66w) —

IRAN AND PEARL HARBOR SYNDROME
By Pyotr Romanov

Focus News, Bulgaria
May 4 2006

The Paris meeting on Iran, which the media dubbed “secret” because
journalists were barred from it from start to finish, ended in failure
as expected.

The positions of the sides remained the same. The United States wants
the UN Security Council to pass the toughest possible resolution on
Iran’s nuclear file. By and large, the Europeans are leaning toward
the U.S. proposal, while permanent members of the Security Council
Moscow and Beijing insist on talks. The negotiators were trying hard
to conceal what has long become an open secret.

Trying to help Beijing and Moscow out of the predicament,
U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton has suggested that they should
abstain from voting on the problem at the Security Council. If the
Council is torn apart by contradictions and fails to exert pressure
on Iran, the U.S. and other countries may themselves punish Iran.

Other U.S. officials have expressed the same opinion. U.S. State
Department spokesman Sean McCormack has just made another statement
to this effect.

Moscow also has to adjust its position. Chairman of the Duma committee
on international affairs Konstantin Kosachyov has just declared
that Iran’s ostentatious refusal to comply with the Security Council
requirements was fraught with serious consequences. He did not rule
out sanctions against Iran.

It is even more interesting to hear the opinions of intelligence
officers, military men and independent experts. U.S. intelligence
spokesmen openly admit that they know very little about Iran; such
statements, however, should not calm Tehran down because they clearly
show that the U.S. and its foremost allies are channeling all the
necessary financial, material and intellectual resources into the
effort. It is hardly a coincidence that when U.S.-Iranian dispute
reached its peak, the military announced successful testing at the
Eglin air base in Florida of the 10-ton Massive Ordnance Air Burst
(MOAB), which the press immediately dubbed the Mother of All Bombs.

The use of tactical nuclear arms, primarily anti-bunker weapons, has
not been ruled out, either. It is not surprising that Moscow insists
on negotiations – it does not want a nuclear war near its borders,
all the more so since nuclear issue is no bluff. Former U.S.

Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that the American military
should analyze all options against Iran, including the use of nuclear
weapons.

It is not merely the doctrine of a preventive strike that is pushing
the U.S. to be tough. In effect, the doctrine itself reflects the
painful Pearl Harbor syndrome, and a highly dubious assumption that
it was possible to nip Hitler in the bud if the U.S. had intervened
in Europe earlier. The trauma inflicted on the U.S. by the barbarous
hostage seizure in Iran has not healed, either. Good old Freud is
here again.

Finally, the Americans are worried by some forecasts. Zbigniew
Brzezinski thinks that the U.S. will wage war with Iran for 30 years
and lose its world supremacy as a result. This prediction suggests the
conclusion – either not go to war at all, or strike without mercy and
win a quick victory. Thus, the American Eagle is now looking around
with particular attention and is ready to nip in the bud anything it
perceives as an attack. Invasion of Iran on the basis of unverified
data may be just a prelude, all the more so since presumption of
innocence does not apply to Iran. Defending its right to a civilian
nuclear program, Tehran has already said too much and got bogged down
in contradictions.

Even some independent Russian experts believe that war is inevitable.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Institute of Globalization Problems
Mikhail Delyagin said: “I think that the actions, which have been
taken, and the propaganda accompaniment, which we have been hearing,
give us enough grounds to predict that the decision on a missile
attack… has been made. Considering the election race, this should
happen in late spring or summer.”

It is rumored that in Yerevan, capital of Armenia, wealthy Iranians
of Azeri background have already rushed to buy housing, just in case…

In turn, the press is trying to predict what Iran will do in return.

Quoting its sources in Tehran, the British Sunday Times writes that
Iran is ready for an adequate reply. There are 40,000 trained suicide
bombers, who will attack American, Israeli and British targets, 29 of
which have already been selected. The Iranian president is talking
about an asymmetrical blow at Israel. Tehran has also repeatedly
threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

To sum up, Pearl Harbor and the good old Freud are spelling a lot
of trouble.

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

ArmRadio.am
04.05.2006 18:00

RA President Robert Kocharyan received today the French Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier.

President’s Press Office informs that the mediator presented the
results consultations of the Co-Chairs held May 2-3 in Russia.

ARMENIA SHOULD LOOK FORWARD FOR FUTURE NOT KEEPING PAST MEMORIES- PACE CHAIRMAN

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 1 2006

In order to normalize its relations with Turkey Armenia “should look
forward for future not keeping past memories,” the chairman of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rene Van der
Linden told in exclusive interview to MediaMax.

“The fact that both Armenia and Turkey are members of the Council
of Europe allows MPs from both countries to meet and hold joint
discussions. I think that if you live in the same region and you
don’t have any open relations in trade, economy, culture you are not
benefiting your own countries in the first place. You can not create
a stable future in the region if you are isolated from your neighbors.”

“If you are looking for a solution you will find it. Though, you
will never find a 100% solution. Compromise is always a must as both
sides have their own arguments and if you will only stay on your own
principles and feelings it won` t be possible to find appropriate
peaceful solution for future,” Van der Linden said.

Regnum, Russia
April 28 2006

Azerbaijan is ready to become mediator between the US and Iran
Read it in Russian

Izvestia daily has published an article `The American Vector of the
Azeri Policy’ prepared with the help of the press service of the
Azeri President. The article is about the context and goals of the
visit of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to the US and is, in fact, the
account of Azerbaijan’s official position. The article says:

`Washington has had many chances to show its respect, to welcome in
any way the independent Azeri choice, to support the new president
Ilham Aliyev. But the visit did not take place in either 2004 or
2005. Then, the visit might, probably, seem politically and
tactically more necessary to Baku than to Washington. But now the
situation is different: we are faced with the reality of not only a
real war in nearby Iraq but also quickly growing tensions in the
Caspian region itself – over Iran. In this light, Azerbaijan is
becoming not just important for the US but even more important than
its traditional ally Turkey. The situation over Iran is really
critical for the Bush administration. And at this very moment
Washington invites the Azeri president – not just as an ally but as a
possible supporter in this complicated situation…’

Azerbaijan is Iran’s closest neighbor – the countries have
centuries-old common history and even partial ethnic relationship
(multi-million Azeri community in Iran). So, Azerbaijan is exactly
the one who can help Washington out of the present stalemate, who can
prompt how to avoid the follies it made in Iraq. And Azerbaijan risks
nothing. It has nothing to ask for from the Americans (compare the
most quickly growing CIS economy, Azerbaijan, with Georgia or,
better, with Armenia, who would never be able to make up their
budgets were it not for the American money)… It’s quite traditional
for the US diplomacy to use a reliable partner for making a secret
retreat in a stalemate situation. Just remember the legendary Henry
Kissinger. It was he who secretly prepared the historic meeting
between Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong. It was exactly since then
(since Kissinger’s secret voyages) that we have used the term
`shuttle diplomacy.’ Just like today with Iran, it was impossible
then to imagine that the enemies like the US and China might ever sit
down at the negotiating table. Why not to repeat this success in Iran
through President Aliyev? The Aliyev-Bush meeting in Washington might
be an opportunity to find such a solution.”

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is quite critical of the quality of the US’
alliance with Ukraine and Georgia: `The role of potential negotiator
between the US and Iran is sharply raising the West’s interest in
Azerbaijan. Until now the most attractive objects for the US
diplomacy have been Ukraine and Georgia, where weak presidents have
paved the way for regimes loyal to the US.’

The article gives special attention to the Karabakh problem: `Now
having on hand the Iraqi catastrophe, the growing Iranian crisis,
HAMAS in Palestine and the consequent complications in the whole
Muslim world, Washington will not only try to insure Aliyev’s
authority against any blows but will also search for news forms and
spheres of regional geo-political cooperation with Azerbaijan. Still
we can hardly expect any quick progress in the Karabakh peace
process: the Armenian lobby in America is too strong to be overcome
quickly even if the US actually wants to get closer with Azerbaijan.

But Armenia should not rejoice at this. In strategic terms, the
longer it persists in occupying other’s territories the more it will
lose. As an active partner of big world powers, Azerbaijan is in much
better position. And this position will only grow with time. In the
present-day world, the stability of a state depends not so much on
its territory as on its balanced foreign policy – when it does not
heel to any side but frees resources for internal development.
Despite losses, Azerbaijan has got much, while Armenia has failed to
capitalize on its territorial seizures.’

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

28 April 2006

REFLECTION .. CELEBRATION . REVIVAL

If you are one of many who question the relevance of the Armenian Church
today and if you feel the connection between Creator and created has faded
in the busy schedule of daily living and materialism, then the past week of
celebrations rejoicing the 40th anniversary year of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Holy Resurrection in Sydney, Australia would have transformed your
outlook, revived your spirit and steered you back on track, in the direction
of your Maker.

Under the auspice of His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the
Diocese of Australia, the administration of Very Reverend Father Vardan
Navasardyan and the Armenian Church Council of Australia in NSW, a week long
celebration of events began Easter Sunday on the Commemoration of the
Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with the reading of the
Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians. On this auspicious occasion, His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan
from Armenia represented His Holiness and the Mother See.

Easter Monday which observes a day of remembrance in the Armenian Church
paid respect to the memory of founders, benefactors and servants of the
Church of Holy Resurrection whose contributions have left a living legacy.
The solemn requiem service, attended by over 200 congregational members that
included families of the deceased, was followed by “hokejash” ~ a dinner in
remembrance of the souls of the dearly departed, where church community
gathered together, one in spirit, rekindling relationships with new and old
friends.

Tuesday was a night of joyous festivity dedicated to the children of our
community. More than 300 children, parents and teachers with beaming faces
congregated in the Church for a prayer service, the theme of which was
“obedience and protection” ~ obedience to parents, obedience to God,
protection from parents, protection from God. The buzz of excitement at so
many children from all spheres of the community gathered together in the
house of God perpetuated when everyone packed the church hall to present
their own beautifully rehearsed performance and message of congratulations
on occasion of the jubilee anniversary of their Church.

It was Youth Night on Wednesday that once again saw an electrified crowd,
this time a crowd of teenagers and young adults congregating the pews of the
Church of Holy Resurrection. The theme of the service was “God is love” ~
recognising the grace of God’s love upon us and calling Him to fill our own
hearts with love. Youth representing different organisations or just simply
from the community combined in prayer, liturgical chants and reading of the
scriptures to glorify the name of the Almighty. A casual cocktail reception
followed in the church hall when youth from the various organisations
addressed the 200 plus crowd on their respective mission and how each
perceived its role and relationship with the church.

Thursday evening presented a symposium with guest speakers submitting both
secular and religious views on “The challenges facing the church today and
the church’s contribution to moral issues in today’s society”. Speakers
included Ms Gladys Berejiklian MP (Member for the Willoughby), Mr Stepan
Kerkyashrian (Chairman of the Community Relations Commission and President
of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board), Reverend John Henderson (General
Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia – NCCA) and
Reverend Dr Ray Williamson (General Secretary of the NSW Ecumenical
Council).

Friday evening was dedicated to a round table with Armenian organisations
and political parties to discuss issues facing the community today. Of
primary importance and dominating discussions was the matter of Armenian
youth and developing their interest in community affairs to ensure the
perpetuation of the local Armenian community.

An ecumenical service on Saturday evening was attended by a number of heads
of churches and representatives. Joining in the service were the Roman
Catholic, Anglican, Uniting and Middle Eastern Churches as well as the
Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. Reverend David Gill (former
General Secretary of the NCCA) gave the message of the day on “love and
unity”, a theme common to the ecumenical movement of today. Following the
prayer service, Archbishop Baliozian hosted a meeting in the Primate’s
office which preceded a banquet dinner in the Edgarian hall.

The culmination of the week long events concluded with the 40th Anniversary
Jubilee Concert at Willoughby Town Hall when a high calibre of Armenian
talent showcased Armenian culture at its very best. The evening began with
the reading of the Encyclical of His Holiness honouring the 40th anniversary
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection and celebrated the 40
year history with song, dance, recitations and an oral history presentation.
Ceremoniously and with great vitality, the community embraced the
celebrations forging ahead into another decade of discipleship and ministry.

ETHNIC ARMENIANS IN GEORGIA WANT RUSSIAN BASE AS PROTECTION “FROM THE TURKS”

RTR Russia TV, Moscow
27 Apr 06

[Presenter] The accords between Moscow and Tbilisi on the closure
of Russian military bases in Georgia have encountered an unexpected
obstacle. It appears that officials forgot to consult the residents of
Akhalkalaki District, on whose territory a Russian base is located. If
it closes, their life will be stripped of its most important element
– the stability that the Georgian authorities are incapable of
guaranteeing them. This report by Ia Bersenadze explains how the
inhabitants of Akhalkalaki are trying to defend their rights.

[Correspondent] These military vehicles leaving the 62nd Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki for a routine manoeuvre were obliged
to turn back. Several hundred local inhabitants, protesting at the
planned closure of the base next year, blocked the road and stopped
them passing.

[Villager Garik Manukyan, speaking vernacular, with Russian
translation] The Russian military must not leave Akhalkalaki. They
must defend us from the Turks, because Georgia is incapable of
protecting us.

[Correspondent] Akhalkalaki has always been regarded as a special
area of Georgia. Almost 90 per cent of the population here are ethnic
Armenians. An absolute majority of them do not speak Georgian. For
this reason, they have not been accepted for jobs with state
institutions. The problem of unemployment has always been one of the
main ones.

The Akhalkalaki area is called Georgia’s Siberia because of its harsh
climate. Even at the end of April, when the air temperature in the
rest of Georgia reaches plus 20 degrees, it is still below freezing
here. In this town there are neither plants nor factories. The only
place where, until recently, local inhabitants could find work is
the 62nd Russian military base in the town of Akhalkalaki.

For the last four years (?Musheg Donoyan) has been living in a
well-appointed flat on the military estate. He and his wife work as
teachers at the school located within the base. His children also
study there. They have no complaints about their life. But they are
apprehensive about the future.

[Musheg Donoyan, teacher] If you come back here in a year or two’s
time, you will find us using a little cooking stove to heat this flat.

[Correspondent] The border with Turkey, a country which belongs to
NATO, is only 40 km from here. For this reason, the military base was
a most important link in the Soviet defence system. Local Armenians
still regard it as a guarantee of their security.

[David Rstakyan, resident of Akhalkalaki, speaking Russian] What
we are doing is dictated by our own security. This is not a circus
performance, as the powers that be say. This is simply dictated by
the Armenian population’s instinct for self-preservation.

[Correspondent] It is the Georgian minister of internal affairs
who calls the protests in Akhalkalaki a circus performance and
a charade. Vano Merabishvili claims there is no justification
whatsoever for mass protests and popular unrest in this region
and that the situation is completely under control. However, local
residents do not share the optimism of the Tbilisi authorities. If
the base closes, they say, we will lose a guarantee of peaceful life,
as well as our livelihoods.

[Video, captioned “Akhalkalaki, Georgia”, shows a crowd of people
surrounding an armoured vehicle on a snowy track. An officer
aboard a command and control vehicle addresses the people. Camera
shows the vehicle reversing, then a battered road sign saying
“Akhalkalaki”. Correspondent delivers her piece from in front of
the main entrance to the base, which is guarded by two soldiers at a
barrier. Another sequence shows a squad of troops marching at the base
and the same armoured vehicle seen before, as well as a land rover-type
vehicle. Snow-covered mountains are visible in the background. Another
shot shows news conference by Georgian ministers. There is a final
glimpse of a slogan about military reform at the base.]

CEREMONY DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TAKES PLACE AT RA EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006

WASHINGTON, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A ceremony
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place
on April 24 in the territory of the RA Embassy in Washington. More
than 500 American Armenians, among them representatives of
Armenian-American organizations and the Armenian Apostolic Church,
friends of the Armenian people participated in the ceremony. Wreaths
were laid to the khachkars (cross stone) placed in the territory
of the Embassy on behalf of the RA Embassy, the NKR representation,
Armenian organizations in Washington and individuals. Spiritual heads
of the Surb Mariam Astvatsatsin and Surb Khach Armenian churches of
Washington implemented requiem ceremony in the memory of the Genocide
victims. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, RA Ambassador to U.S. Tatul Margarian made
a speech during the memorial ceremony, who attached importance to the
activity implemented by the Diaspora in the affair of the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Ambassador mentioned that
the issue of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is on the agenda of the RA foreign policy. Emphasizing the unity
of Armenian organizations in the issue, T.Margarian also emphasized
the importance of existence of the independent state of Armenia in
the issue of reaching success in the work done in the direction of
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.