Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 24 2007

Genocide lobby foiled by presidential election

The presidential elections in Turkey are impeding initiatives to send
another parliamentary delegation to Washington, D.C., to lobby
against the Armenian genocide resolution pending in the US Congress.
Bülent Arýnç, the speaker of the Turkish Parliament, did not approve
a visit by a parliamentary delegation to the US slated for April
14-16 as it would coincide with the presidential elections.

Arýnç stated it would not be proper for any deputy to be abroad in
April due to the presidential elections, a move that received the
support of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary
group. Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission chairman Mehmet
Dülger, who was to lead the delegation, said: "We would be in the US
on April 14. Our visit would coincide with the presidential elections
in Turkey. For this reason, Mr. Speaker does not approve of our
visit. We are trying to find a solution, but the prospects of our
visit to the US currently seem dim." Ankara Today’s Zaman

AKHTAMAR’S SURB KHACH CHURCH HAS HAD A CROSS, AND THE CROSS – A PHOTOGRAPH
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007

After weeks of prolongation the opening of the reconstructed of
Surb Khach Church of the Akhtamar Isle was finally arranged on
March 29. According to latest information, numerous guests, among
them Culture Minister of Armenia Hasmik Poghosian, are invoted to
the ceremony.

Still, the reconstruction must be considered incomplete, as the
church bell and the cross have not been restored on their places. To
be reminded, Turkish authorities explained that fault by lack of
information about the cross, its look and design.

Meanwhile numerous photographs of the church, with brilliant view
of the cross, were published both in Armenian and Western press and
scientific works. Two of those photos "Azg" received from "Azdak"
newspaper director Shahan Gantaharian, Beirut, which proves the
inconsistence of the explanations of Turkish Culture Minister Koc
and expert Hazan.

But the problems about Akhtamar do not end up in the problem of the
cross. If not so, a group of Turkish Armenian intellectuals would have
no reason to address aforementioned Mr. Koc with request to consecrate
the church during the opening ceremony, to commit the consecration
to Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafian, to hand the church to the Patriarchy
and restore its original Armenian name "Akhtamar", which was altered
to Turkish Akdamar so as to mar the Armenian heritage.

Such request is not occasional. On March 9 "Vatan" newspaper, Turkey,
published an article by Mehmed Ozturk, to which the Patriarch responded
on March 19 by a publication in "Lraber". Ozturk’s article says:
"To whom shall be handed the church? To the Patriarchies of Lebanon
and Jerusalem or the Catholicosate of Armenia?" Such prevocational
questions need no comments. It is a background for new insinuations,
which can cast a shadow upon the festive ceremony of opening, organized
by the Government of Turkey.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union Inc.
Rita Kuyumjian MD
Chairperson
805, Manoogian street
Ville St-Laurent, QC H4N 1Z5
Tel: 514-748-2428
Fax: 514-748-6307
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Montreal March 14, 2007- One hundred boys and girls attended an interactive
centennial exhibit viewing session at the Montreal Chapters Dervishian Hall.
The 16 panels which told the history of the AGBU were used by Dr. Rita
Kuyumjian Montreal Chapter Chairwomen to highlight the crucial milestones of
the history of our Union. The children were fascinated to see how the orphan
boys were studying Armenian seated on the sand on the shores of the
Mediterranean sea. They were also very proud to recognize the pictures of
Alex Manoogian the founder of their School, to recognize the picture of the
Montreal chapter, and to recognize the group picture of Montreal scouts in
Armenia. They were also very curious to learn that the Armenian boroughs
such as Nor- kugh in Aleppo and Eshrefiye in Beyrouth were built to resettle
the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. They left the exhibit proud to be
students of 150 AGBU Armenian school network of the world. They promised me
and to each other to ask their grandparents from which city in Cilicia they
come from, and to write an assay on the history of their grand parents’
lives.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 16 2007

Leo Platvoet: I will insist on including my report on missing persons
into the agenda of PACE session

[ 16 Mar 2007 11:10 ]

`I will insist on including my report on missing persons in the South
Caucasus in the agenda of the April Session of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),’ Leo Platvoet, PACE
rapporteur on missing persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia told
the APA.

He said that agenda of the PACE April session will be discussed in
Strasbourg next week.
`Though I am not the member of the council determining the agenda, I
have already met with some officials dealing with this procedure. I
insisted upon including my report in the agenda of the session. I
will discuss it with the other members of the council next week, as
my report needs to be debated,’ he said. /APA/

AZERBAIJANI INSINUATIONS: "KARABAKH – AN UNCONTROLLABLE AREA"
By Agavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2007

While Armenian politicians are engaged from head to toe in preparations
to the forthcoming parliamentary elections, Azerbaijani representatives
in the PACE are trying to pass certain alterations to the Human Rights
Commission reports on Karabakh. Azerbaijani mass media says that
member of Azerbaijani delegation to the European Council Gyultekin
Gajieva claimed that Karabakh must be included in the category of such
"uncontrollable areas" as South Osetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr region.

It is noteworthy that the interest of Karabakh were advocated by
an Ukrainian deputy, who noted that Karabakh is a debatable, but
not uncontrollable territory. In any case, if the allegations of the
Azerbaijani mass media are to be believed, the report was passed with
Gajieva’s alteration.

The Armenian delegation did not take part in that sitting. According
to Artashes Geghamian’s comment on the event, the proposition of
the "Azeri lady" cannot be legitimate because of the absence of the
Armenian delegations, and therefore the rumors are nothing but a part
of Azerbaijani propaganda.

REPRESENTATIVE BAIRD AGREES TO OSPONSOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ArmRadio.am
14.03.2007 17:10

Members of the greater Portland-area and southwestern Washington State
communities held meetings with the district offices of Congresswoman
Darlene Hooley (D-OR-05) and Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) on
March 7, 2007 to ask the representatives to cosponsor H.Res.106,
the Armenian Genocide resolution that was introduced in the House
of Representatives earlier this year. Organized by ANC of Oregon
Chairman Rafael Saakyan, the meetings were also aimed at continuing
to strengthen local grassroots relationships with each Representative.

As a direct result of these key constituent meetings and relationships,
Representative Baird has agreed to cosponsor the Armenian Genocide
resolution, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 184.

"We wanted to make sure our elected officials were aware of the
significance of this resolution and why it was important to support
it," said Saakyan. " This resolution sends a clear message that our
Congress has the strength to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and
provide the moral foundation to help us fight the continuing specter
of genocide that confronts us today in Darfur."

EBB AND FLOW OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF THE INDIAN OCEAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

UCLA Asia Institute, CA
March 13 2007

March 17, 2007-Saturday Morning (9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)

Introduction-Ebb and Flow. Richard G. Hovannisian, UCLA

Armenian Settlements and Cultural Life

Chair and Discussant: Engseng Ho, Harvard University

Armenian Mercantile Communities in Southeast Asia. Margaret Sarkissian,
Smith College

>>From Dispersion to Nation: Armenian Diasporic Speculations in
18th-Century India.

SATURDAY, March 17 (9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

Morning Session: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Introduction-Ebb and Flow Richard G. Hovannisian, UCLA

"Armenian Settlements and Cultural Life" Chair and Discussant:
Engseng Ho, Harvard University

Armenian Mercantile Communities in Southeast Asia Margaret Sarkissian,
Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts >>From Dispersion to Nation:
Armenian Diasporic Speculations in 18th-Century India Khachig Tololyan,
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut The Indian Interlude in
the Development of Modern Armenian Drama Peter Cowe, UCLA INTERMISSION
"Azdarar" and Other Armenian Periodicals of India Osheen Keshishian,
Glendale Community College Joseph Emin and British Colonial Policy in
Calcutta Mana Kia, Harvard University General Discussion LUNCH RECESS

Afternoon Session: 2:00-:5:30 p.m.

"Indo-Armenian History and Relations" Chair and Discussant: Houri
Berberian, California State University, Long Beach

Colonial Counterflows: An Armenian Lady from Agra in London, circa 1610
Michael Fisher, Oberlin College Khwaja Gorgin Khan: An 18th-Century
Armenian General of the Bengal Army Bhaswati Bhattacharya, University
of Leiden Notables and Benefactors (with a film on Sir Catchick Paul
Chater) Richard Hovannisian, UCLA INTERMISSION Armenian-American
GIs and the Armenian Community of India in World War II Gregory
Aftandilian, Harvard University The Present State of the Indo-Armenian
Community Armen Baibourtian, Erevan, First Armenian Ambassador to
India General Discussion

SUNDAY, March 18 (2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

"Long Distance Merchants and Julfan Trade in the Indian Ocean" Chair
and Discussant: Edward A. Alpers, UCLA

French Commercial Ambitions and Armenian Interlocutors in 17th-Century
Asia Sanjay Subrahmanyam, UCLA Long Distance Merchants and the Role
of Julfan "Networks of Trust" Sebouh Aslanian, Columbia University
Don Pedro di Zaratte: A Julfan Armenian in Mexico City, 1723-31.

Tatiana Seijas, Yale University General Discussion

Concluding Remarks

Khachig Tololyan, Wesleyan University

The Indian Interlude in the Development of Modern Armenian Drama.

Peter Cowe, UCLA

Refreshments

"Azdarar" and Other Armenian Periodicals of India. Osheen Keshishian,
Glendale Community College

Joseph Emin and British Colonial Policy in Calcutta . Mana Kia,
Harvard University

General Discussion

Lunch Recess: 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Saturday Afternoon: (2:00-5:30 p.m.)

Indo-Armenian History and Relations

Chair and Discussant: Houri Berberian (California State University,
Long Beach)

Colonial Counterflows: An Armenian Lady from Agra in London, circa
1610. Michael Fisher, Oberlin College

Khwaja Gorgin Khan: An 18th-Century Armenian General of the Bengal
Army. Bhaswati Bhattacharya, University of Leiden

Notables and Benefactors (with a film on Sir Catchick Paul Chater).

Richard G. Hovannisian, UCLA

Refreshments

Armenian-American GIs and the Armenian Community of India in World
War II. Gregory Aftandilian, Harvard University

The Present State of the Indo-Armenian Community. Armen Baibourtian,
Erevan, First Armenian Ambassador to India

General Discussion

Sunday March 18: (2:00-5:30 p.m.)

Long Distance Merchants and Julfan Trade in the Indian Ocean

Chair and Discussant: Edward A. Alpers, UCLA

French Commercial Ambitions and Armenian Interlocutors in 17th-Century
Asia. Sanjay Subrahmanyam, UCLA

Long Distance Merchants and the Role of Julfan "Networks of Trust".

Sebouh Aslanian, Columbia University

Don Pedro di Zaratte: A Julfan Armenian in Mexico City, 1723-31.

Tatiana Seijas, Yale University

General Discussion

Concluding Remarks

Photographic Exhibit by Richard and Anne Elizabeth Elbrecht, Davis

Date: Sunday, March 18, 2007

Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Court of Sciences 50 (Young Hall) UCLA Los Angeles, CA 90095

Cost: Open to the Public at No Charge

Special Instructions Parking: Structure 2 ($8.00), UCLA Entrance,
Hilgard and Westholme Avenues.

For more information please contact Richard Hovanissian

Posted by: Center for European and Eurasian Studies

Sponsor(s): Center for European and Eurasian Studies, UCLA
International Institute, Center for India and South Asia, Department
of History, Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian
History, G.E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies

ent.asp?eventid=5382

Al-Arab online, UK
March 11 2007

Military’s media `Black List’ prompts probe

A revelation by a Turkish magazine of the existence of a list that
classified journalists on the basis of their perceived attitude towards
Turkey’s powerful military establishment has prompted a judicial inquiry as
well as widespread outrage in the country’s media.

The 17-page report listing journalists depending on their alleged
‘pro-military’ or ‘anti-military’ bias was published on Thursday by the
magazine Nokta.

The Turkish military has not denied the existence of the document and has
launched a judicial probe to discover who leaked the ‘black list’ to the
magazine.

The document, dated November 2006, was prepared by the Office of the Chief
of General Staff Public and Press Relations Bureau and is entitled ‘A
reassessment of accredited press and media organs’.

Journalists and media organisations that want to follow the activities of
the Office of the Chief of General Staff need to be accredited by the
office.

The document lists all the country’s mainstream national broadcast and print
media outlets and journalists, categorising them according to their comments
and reports on the Turkish military.

It also includes comments and recommendations on whether the media
accreditation handed out to individuals should be granted, denied or
revoked.

"The report is a shame for our democracy. It is a new obstacle for freedom
of expression and freedom of press," the main body representing journalists
in the country, the Turkish Journalists Association, said in its response.

Umur Talu, a veteran columnist for the daily Sabah and a renowned critic of
the influence of the military in Turkey asked Friday why he is described as
"treacherous" on the list.

"Is it ‘normal’ for a 21-year-old junior officer to commit suicide in his
military unit because he was being humiliated? No, then why should I be
described as ‘treacherous’ for having reported on it," Talu asked in his
column.

Other famous journalists and columnists that appear on the list in the
‘anti-military’ category include Murat Belge, Mehmet Ali Birand and Can
Dundar. Murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and his weekly Agos
are not included in the document.

Another prominent journalist, Mehmet Altan from the Star daily, said that
while he was scandalised by the existence of the list "there is at least a
group of high-ranking military officials who think that this report is a
serious mistake and that’s why they’ve leaked it."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other government officials have not
commented on the report.

Media outlets with more radical positions, such as the socialist and
Islamist newspapers and television stations are not given accreditation to
follow the Office of the Chief of General Staff and hence do not are already
not accredited to military’s media events and are not included in the ‘black
list.’

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: 
March 11, 2007

The Armenian Pontiff Visits Armenian Church of Bombay

St. Peter Armenian Church, built in Mumbai (Bombay), India in 1796,
currently serves as a house of worship to not only the few remaining
Armenians in the city, but also to the faithful of the Indian Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Church, who use it regularly for their church services as
guests of the Armenian Church.

As his pontifical visit to India was nearing its conclusion, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the
Armenian Church named after St. Peter the Apostle on the morning of
Saturday, March 3.  His Eminence Geevargehse Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan of
Bombay of the Malankara Orthodox Church, and a delegation of Malankara
priests welcomed the arrival of His Holiness and the pontifical delegation
at the entrance to the church.  A procession of Armenian and Indian priests,
Indian Orthodox faithful and the last three Armenians in Bombay greeted the
entrance of His Holiness with the singing of hymns and the chanting of
psalms.

Once inside, a `Hrashapar’ service was offered by the Armenian priests,
following which His Holiness addressed his message of blessing to the
gathered faithful.  His Holiness offered praise and thanks to Almighty God
for allowing him to visit the distant shores of India during the past ten
days, and to personally witness the Armenian communities of the Far East and
their legacy built throughout the previous centuries.

His Eminence Metropolitan Mar Coorilos welcomed the Pontiff of All Armenians
to Bombay and extended the fraternal greetings and love of His Holiness
Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East and Malankara
Metropolitan.

The Catholicos of All Armenians presented His Eminence with an episcopal
panagia from Holy Etchmiadzin and commended the service of the Indian
Orthodox priests to the flock entrusted to their care.  His Holiness also
exhorted the gathered Indian faithful to remain steadfast in their Christian
faith and devoted to their holy apostolic church founded by St. Thomas the
Apostle.

His Holiness was accompanied to Bombay by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and
Pontifical Legate to the Far East; Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, member of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother
See and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian as Staff-bearer.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Parliamentary elections have exclusive meaning for Armenia’s future
10.03.2007 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Earlier NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan accepted the
delegation at the head of John Huko, the Vice-President on operational
issues of the `Millenium Challenges’ Corporation, the RA NA Press
Office reports. John Huko is in Armenia for the first time. The goal
of his visit is first of all, to acquaint with the realization process
of `Millenium Challenges’ Corporation programs and those responsible
for it, and then – to hold direct and open conversation with Armenian
friends around the upcoming parliamentary elections. The
Vice-President of the American Corporation highly appreciated the
realized works, underlining that Armenia can be proud of program in
action and officials responsible for it. `Millenium Challenges’
program is not only a way to strengthen Armenian-American relations,
but also it is a chance to cut poverty and increase income in
Armenia. John Huko noted that `Millenium Challenges’ Corporation works
only with democratic countries; it uses 11 indexes for the level of
democracy, which are single for all 25 states included in the
framework of `Millenium Challenges’. The sides stressed the importance
of conducting the upcoming parliamentary elections in accordance with
democratic standards. Otherwise of `Millenium Challenges’ programs
will be put under question in Armenia. He expressed hope that
parliamentary election in May will fix positive steps considered with
elections in the past, providing succession of the program.

Tigran Torosyan stressed the importance to realize programs of
`Millenium Challenges’. He also thanked for its creation and first
steps in realization process. Torosyan underlined the importance to
hold parliamentary elections properly, first of all for the sake of
Armenia’s future and development of reforms. The RA NA Speaker also
noted that conducting elections in accordance with democratic norms is
so important, that the continuation of `Millenium Challenges’ program
is incomparable near it and cannot be viewed as a stimulus for
Armenia. Of course, he said, democracy in Armenia has not reached its
perfection, but tendentious estimations, which turn everything upside
down, are not acceptable.

Touching upon the parliamentary elections, T. Torosyan stressed that
they really have exclusive importance for Armenia’s future and
continuation of reforms: also after elections provisions concerning
political system in the result of constitutional reforms will be put
in force.