Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

PRELACY RECEIVES DONATION FROM PASDERMADJIAN FOUNDATION

ArmRadio.am
21.12.2006 10:24

The Pasdermadjian Foundation donated $15,000 to the Armenian Prelacy
of Canada, as requested by the late Mr. Hagop Pasdermadjian, a very
generous and well-known philanthropist.

According to his wishes and his will, Mr. Pasdermadjian
bequeathed this annual amount to the Prelacy for the foreseeable
future. Mr. Pasdermadjian also donated $150,000 towards the erection
of the Prelacy building in 2004.

The Pasdermadjian Foundation was established by the Pasdermadjian
Brothers, dedicated benefactors to the Armenian community.

ARMENIAN SOLDIER KILLED BY AZERI SNIPER

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.12.2006 13:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On December 18 at about 18:00 local time in the
action stations of the Idjevan military base in the area of heart was
deadly wounded contractor junior sergeant of the Armenian Armed Forces
Ruben Tamrazyan, born in 1967. Tamrazyan died on the spot because of
the deadly wound, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan, the Press Officer of
the Defense Ministry told the PanARMENIAN.Net. An investigation is
being carried out.

ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN IS OF NO DANGER FOR ARMENIA
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
19/12/2006

Zhirayr Sefilian, commander of "Shoushi" special detachment, is of no
danger for Armenia. There are 3-4 thousand people living in Armenia
and, separately, none of them can be of no serrious danger for Armenia.

Some of them may be dangerous for the society, for some people, but
not for the coutry," Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister, said at a
press conference.

"Regnum" informed that Mr. Sargsian emphaszied that he wouldn’y like
to witness how somebody’s abilities are overestimated.

He added that Zhirayr Sefilian is one of the thousand of people who
participated in the Artsakh war. "Yes, he faught the war, but if it
seems to you that you can compare him with the perished commander
Monte Melkonian, it’s merely a matter of test," he said.

OSKANIAN MEETS IRANIAN LEADERS
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 18 2006

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
and other top Iranian officials on Sunday during a one-day visit
to Tehran which officials said focused on bilateral relations and
regional security.

Official Armenian and Iranian sources reported few details of the
talks, citing only the two sides as reaffirming their commitment to
strengthening political and economic ties between the two neighboring
states.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Ahmadinejad said those ties
"contribute to peace and security in the region," adding that "all
available resources should be exploited to realize their potential."

Oskanian, according to the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan, stressed the
importance of the "special relationship" binding Armenia and Iran,
saying that it is based on their "centuries-old friendship and
cultural-historical similarities."

A ministry statement said he discussed a "broad range of bilateral
and regional issues," including the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, at a separate meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki. The two men praised the ongoing construction of
a pipeline that will supply Armenia with Iranian natural gas and a
third transmission line that will link the two countries’ power grids,
the statement said.

Another Iranian news agency, Fars, reported in that regard that
Ahmadinejad "stressed the need to speed up" work on the pipeline’s
first Armenian section which is financed from a $35 million Iranian
loan.

Armenian officials said earlier that it will be complete by December
20. But speaking to journalists after talks with Oskanian, Mottaki
was reported to say that the 40-kilometer section will not come on
stream before next March.

It is not clear if the two ministers discussed the Armenian
government’s plans to incorporate the pipeline into a
Russian-controlled company that runs Armenia’s gas distribution
network. Iranian diplomats in Yerevan have said that this can not
happen without Tehran’s consent.

Oskanian also met with Iranian parliament speaker Gholamali Haddad
Adel and Ali Larijani, a top security official in charge of the
Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear program criticized by
the West. Larijani was reported to brief Oskanian on "the latest
developments relating to Iran’s nuclear program."

"At Ali Larijani’s request, Minister Oskanian presented the current
phase of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the statement
said.

Azad Hye
December 15, 2006

In 1994 the Parochial system was introduced into the life of the Armenians
residing in Kuwait and the Arab Gulf countries. Since then three consecutive
elections took place (1994, 1998, 2002). Time has come for the fourth
elections. Besides our best wishes we would like to take the opportunity to
point out to the following:

– It is expected that, after having three previous experiences, the
forthcoming elections would go ahead smoothly enough. Thus we expect that
the election date would be announced very soon and proper circular would be
sent to the Armenians. On the other hand enough time should be given to the
candidates to orient themselves and take this task seriously. The collection
of the national taxes should not be left to the last one or two weeks, etc.
It is recommended to take advantage of this occasion to organize a series of
informative activities emphasizing the importance of the participation in
the public life and highlighting the meaning of the elections and their
influence in our life.

– It is recommended that the candidates provide a written accord regarding
the policies they intend to follow in the coming period (in case they are
elected), making it clear, in the first place, why they want to be elected.
The electors have the right to know about the priorities of the candidates,
their plans and concerns. It would be a good idea if candidates publicize
their pre-election declarations at least two weeks in advance.

– The official parochial report on the activities of the last four years
should be availed to the electors. It is not logical to ask the public to
take part in the elections if the majority is not aware about what has been
going on in the last four years. The elector should have an idea about the
existing difficulties, how effective were the implemented plans, what parts
were not materialized, what ideas were suggested in the course of action.
Only with such an approach an elector would really know the value of his
vote and will understand that he is part of a larger community.

– Meeting people: Of course it is a very healthy phenomenon to do the
elections, but officials should meet with the public not only during the
election time. The UAE Armenian community is getting larger and larger every
day. There are several hundred newly arrived Armenians who live scattered in
many cities in the Emirates without having any record about them. It is a
great challenge to find them and communicate with them. But why not accept
the challenge and proceed to do what is necessary to establish contact with
them, using all advanced technology in this context? Of course this step
means to alter the type and nature of the activities that we are used to
offer to the audience. Not doing so, the newly added members will feel that
they are wasting their time.

– It is very much appreciated if an Armenian networking event takes place at
least once a month in any suitable location in the city. We should invite
all the members of the community to such meetings, especially those who have
settled in the Emirates in the last few years. Our community has a different
structure than the traditionally known Armenian communities: the percentage
of the bachelor professionals (or those who live away from their families)
is big compared to the other Middle Eastern societies. Only by getting to
know each other we can achieve progress.

– The daily school: Behind the curtains there is much talk nowadays about
the school. For 25 years the weekly Armenian school served and continues to
serve the community. The new challenge is to change the school to a daily
one. What is lacking to materialize this project? Willingness! It is a fact
that establishing a school requires sacrifices, but when was the Armenian
hesitant to go ahead with opening a school, especially that the financial
means are almost secured and the number of the students is sufficient? It is
totally different thing that some of those who are occupying positions in
the Armenian community are not convinced about this step. If – in principle
– they have suspicions about the mission of the school, they should tender
their resignations. Preserving the Armenian identity was not always related
to "practical considerations". The elections will enable the emergence of
those who believe in the idea of the daily school.

– Embassy of Armenia: It is a fact that since the year 2000 the Embassy of
Armenia is operating in Abu Dhabi. Supporting an Embassy is a very noble
act. The Armenians of the UAE have assisted the Embassy from the first
moment. In about one year time the new building of the Embassy will be
completed. We must be happy for this achievement, but we should not think
about it as our direct mission. An Embassy before anything else needs
respect. For example, a new website has been recently introduced dedicated
to the monitoring of the construction of the Embassy building, but the
Ambassador was not counseled about it. Patriotism should not take the form
of show-off. Embassy – community relationships should be clear and
transparent, in order to avoid some of the bitter experiences recorded in
other communities.

– Other challenges: In the future we will refer to other issues such as how
involved are the citizens of Armenia in the community life, what are the
cooperation prospects between people of different ideological backgrounds
and sympathies in our community, what are the opportunities for propagating
the Armenian cause in the Gulf countries, etc. It is pity to confirm that we
are going to the elections without having the slightest idea about the above
mentioned issues.

See Armenian text at:
Id=621dzk41

REHABILITATING PAMUK
By Suat Kiniklioglu

Turkish Daily News
December 13, 2006 Wednesday

It first started with interviews conducted by Hadi Uluengin and then
Yasemin Congar in the U.S. Then, most of our media followed suit.

These days not a day passes by without a news piece about Pamuk.

Pamuk arriving in Turkey; Pamuk waiting for his luggage at the airport
or Pamuk leaving Turkey for Sweden. Even Pamuk paying his airport
exit tax (just like every Turkish citizen has to) became worthy of
the news. It appeared as if someone pushed on a button and asked our
media to facilitate the rehabilitation of Orhan Pamuk in Turkish public
opinion. With the exception of Hurriyet’s Oktay Eksi I could not see
any comment that exhibited some honesty about what was going on.

Regardless of how hard Turkey’s dominant media outlets try; in the
eyes of most Turks Pamuk remains suspect. That is rightly so.

Because, as Pamuk himself knows as well, his infamous comments to the
Swiss Tagesanzeiger damaged Turkey’s reputation considerably. I think
Pamuk is a very creative writer. I have read some of his books and
found them extremely good. The New Life was truly breathtaking for
me. I remained under its influence for weeks. There is no doubt that
his more recent books have helped attract more international interest
in Istanbul and Turkey. He is also very successful in conveying the
tensions felt by many Turkish intellectuals the vagaries of a dual
life between East and West. For all of these I have great respect
for the man.

Yet, since his infamous remarks there is a shadow upon him, his work
and his intellectual honesty. A shadow I most felt when he was on
CNN Turk where he in a most apologetic manner repeatedly noted that
he was "misunderstood". I could not understand what he was trying to
explain. After all, he claimed to be one of the few people in Turkey
who "dared" to say that we killed one million Armenians and thirty
thousand Kurds. I was truly perplexed. Admittedly, I would have had
more respect for him if he had dared to tell us Turks as well what
he had said to the Tagesanzeiger. Although I do not agree with him,
at least he would have had exhibited some intellectual honesty and
consistency.

I criticized Article 301 when it put the kinds of Elif Safak and
Orhan Pamuk in front of a court for what they said or wrote. To this
day, such cases remain incompatible with our democracy and constitute
embarrassing road blocks for our EU ambitions. Furthermore, we do not
need court cases or articles in the penal code to win the argument
on the Armenian issue. We will win this debate intellectually, not
through court cases. We will continue to argue that the unfortunate
events of 1915 can only be understood by putting them into a proper
context. We will provide the intellectual evidence for the case that
the losses were common during those existential days in the eastern
front of World War I. Our own intellectual honesty will undoubtedly
appreciate the tragic losses suffered by the Ottoman Armenians. We
acknowledge that Anatolia’s social fabric has yet to recover from the
relocation of them to the southern provinces of the Empire. However,
we also commemorate the losses of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman
Muslims while defending their homeland against invading Russians and
nationalist Armenians who genuinely believed they could set up an
independent Armenia just like the Serbs and Bulgarians managed to do.

What is most distasteful about Pamuk is that to this day he does
not seem to understand that his irresponsible comments did not help
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. On the contrary, they embellished the
Armenian narrative and are being effectively used by those Armenians
who believe that the only way to further their nationalist agendas is
to force Turkey to recognize what they define as "genocide". This is
what is so offensive to us Turks. To those hundreds of thousands who
have lost their loved ones in the eastern front. To those hundreds
of thousands who were pushed out from every corner of the Ottoman
Empire. To those who had to leave their lives, memories and properties
in the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East. To those who were
ruthlessly cleansed in Greece, Crete, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Albania,
Macedonia, the Caucasus and could only find refuge in impoverished
Anatolia. True, we were not able to narrate our tragic experiences
effectively. We also failed to articulate the context and events
of 1915 in a proper manner. Yet, that does not mean we have not
experienced them.

What troubles me most is that Pamuk had no illusions about what
his words meant and how controversial they could be. Watching his
performance at the Nobel Academy he seems to have finally understood
he has no place and credibility to talk about the Armenian issue. His
repeated comments that he "belongs to Turkey" or "does not want to
talk about politics" surely reflect newly acquired wisdom. It has
dawned on him that when the dust settles he will dwell among millions
of deeply offended Turks. No wonder he wants to bring his human side
to the fore and is distancing himself from his infamous comments.

However, the damage has been done and it will be extremely difficult
for him to recover from this. Pamuk may have conquered the world
of literature but in the eyes of the Turkish nation he will remain
tainted with the shadow of his comments. In his Nobel lecture Pamuk
referred to "patiently discovering our secret wounds". While leaving
him alone with his conscience it might be best for him to recognize
the true extent of "our common wounds".

U.S. SENATE SENDS BACK HOAGLAND’S CANDIDATURE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 13 2006

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
U.S. Senate sent back on December 8 Richard Hoagland’s candidature
as the Ambassador to Armenia to President George Bush. As the
Armenian National Committe of America states it was done according
to the order that all the candidatures not affirmed by him before
the Congress holidays must be returned and again presented after
the holidays. The Congress will restart its work in January. Richard
Hoagland’s candidature was stopped on December 12 by New Jersey Senator
Robert Menendez after Hoagland’s refusal to obviously recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

According to the same source, President Bush has the following possible
variants to act: again to present Hoagland’s candidature in January,
to present a new candidate, to appoint Hoagland as the Ambassador
during the Congress holidays (that’s, passing round the Senate),
or simply to leave vacant the chair of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH STARTS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Dec 10 2006

YEREVAN, December 10 (Itar-Tass) – Nagorno-Karabakh starts a referendum
on a Constitution of this self-proclaimed republic. A total of 278
polling stations opened at 08.00 local time in the republican capital
Stepanakert and in all Nagorno-Karabakh districts.

The only polling station outside the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh
republic (NKR) was set up in Yerevan.

Ballot papers contain only one question: "Do you agree with the
adoption of the NKR Constitution?"

Election lists contain 90,000 voters out of 137,700 people, living
in the republic, Itar-Tass learnt at the Central Commission on the
Referendum. The Constitution will be pronounced valid if at least a
third of registered voters approve it, however, no less than half of
those who go to the polls.

Observers from various countries as well as from breakaway entities
over the post-Soviet space, including Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
the Dniester republic, with which the NKR cooperates, arrived in
Stepanakert on the occasion of the referendum.

"The presence of a Constitution is one of the most important conditions
for building a law-abiding state, and opinions of all political forces
concur on this question", said NKR President Arkady Gukasyan.

"The constitutional referendum is another important stage in the
process of establishing our independent statehood and further
development of democracy in the country," claimed chairman of the
Central Commission on the Referendum Sergei Nasibyan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has not been recognized by a single
state in the world, including Armenia which renders it military aid
and grants annually financial assistance.

Azerbaijan, in whose territory the NKR enclave is located, flatly
denies any independent status of Nagorno-Karabakh, stating its
territorial integrity.

KILLING OF ARMENIAN BOY OUTSIDE MOSCOW SOLVED – PROSECUTOR

Interfax, Russia,
Dec 8 2006

MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) – The Moscow region prosecutor’s office has
solved the murder of 15-year-old Armenian citizen Narek Kocharian in
Ivanteyevka, outside Moscow, on November 11.

Four young people, two of them teenagers, have been arrested as
suspects in the murder, a prosecutor’s office spokesman told Interfax
on Friday.

"They have been charged with conspiracy and premeditated murder,"
he said.

"APPROACHING THE LAST PHASE OF THE TALKS"
by Tamara Ovnatanjan

Source: Novoye Vremya (Yerevan), November 30, 2006, EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 6, 2006 Wednesday

RESULTS OF THE TALKS BETWEEN PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: A
VIEW FROM YEREVAN; The Azerbaijani-Armenian talks: no progress is made.

The meeting between presidents Robert Kocharjan (Armenia) and Ilham
Aliyev (Azerbaijan) took place within the framework of the CIS summit
in Minsk. The meeting did not differ from the two previous earlier
this year in terms of information on the talks. It is only possible
to make guesses over what transpired at the meeting on two comments –
by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Aliyev himself. What
their comments revealed inevitably leads to the conclusion that could
be drawn even before the meeting, the conclusion that the third round
of the talks failed to produce any breakthroughs.

Oskanyan appraised the outcome of the negotiations as "positive".

"Agenda of the talks was centered around the issues that have defied
a solution so far," the Armenian diplomat said referring to some
document the president had allegedly discussed. Asked to comment on
the future of the talks, Oskanyan made a reference to the forthcoming
elections (in 2007 in Armenia and 2008 in both countries). Oskanyan
said he didn’t think that the elections would disrupt the talks. "I’m
convinced that the negotiations will continue," he said.

Oskanyan’s vague optimism was supplemented by Aliyev’s unexpected
openness with the Azerbaijani media.

"Some serious talks took place. We discussed moot points. A whole
number of issues were settled. There are, however, some principal
matters on which our opinions differ, and we discussed them at the
latest meeting," Aliyev said.

The president added that negotiations within the framework of the
Prague Process had been under way for more than three years. A lot
of meetings took place. "We are approaching the final phase of the
talks," Aliyev said.

"We want the problem solved with territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
honored," Aliyev summed up Azerbaijanis’ stand. "UN resolutions must
be observed. Azerbaijan lands have to be freed from occupiers for the
return of more than 1 million Azerbaijanis. We are pleased with the
latest activities of international organizations. They also insist
on observation of the territorial integrity principle."

If anything is to be concluded from the comment, it is that
Azerbaijan’s stand has not changed. And since it is so, why the
Azerbaijani president believes that the "final phase" is approaching
is anybody’s guess. Final phases stipulate a compromise, at the
very least.

Contours of the probable compromise may be glimpsed in the latest
statement of American negotiations, Matthew Bryza, to the effect that
the negotiations are currently centered around two problems: return
of the territories forming the security belt and Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status. It is logical to assume that even if Armenia agrees to make
a concession in the matter of land, it will only do so in return for
the status concessions from Azerbaijan. What the Azerbaijani president
said, however, does not imply readiness for compromises.

"Territorial integrity should be restored, and Nagorno-Karabakh will
enjoy broad powers of an autonomy," Illarionov firmly said.

Kocharjan explained Armenia’s position during a visit to Germany a
week ago. "Try as we might, we cannot recall a single precedent where
a nation would abandon sovereignty after 15 years of enjoying it.

Nobody intends to do so in Karabakh’s case. We are talking
irreversibility of changes in people’s conscience," he said addressing
the Bertelsmann Foundation.

In any case, the negotiations in Minsk were entirely a waste of time
and effort. This time, the Azerbaijani side did without military
rhetoric always deployed both before and after previous meetings
within the framework of the Prague Process.

The mediator countries’ and particularly America’s stand on the matter
might have played its part. All these countries are convinced that the
conflict in question cannot be solved by military means. On the other
hand, other factors including economic ones could also persuade the
Azerbaijani leadership to change the concept. The Baku-based newspaper
Zerkalo even published a not exactly pro-Azerbaijani speech of Wayne
Mery at the John Hopkins University.

This expert and prominent diplomat put it bluntly: Azerbaijan couldn’t
hope to win a war launched to settle the conflict.

In any case, Official Baku decided to abandon military rhetoric for
the time being and turn to Russia. Its reasoning is apparently the
following, "If President Vladimir Putin puts Kocharjan under pressure,
then Aliyev may play ball and meet the demands from Moscow not to
help Georgia with gas and electric power." In fact, this hypothesis is
promoted by the daily Kommersant that makes references to its sources
in Azerbaijan. Kommersant even maintains that Kocharjan and Ilham
Aliyev may meet soon again in early December, in Moscow. Armenian
sources do not confirm it.