Author: Tavakalian Edgar

Sabah, Turkey
March 16 2007

Another bill

After the US House of Representatives, another Armenian bill has been
submitted to the senate. Two ministers of Bush’s party have objected
to the bill.

So-called genocide bill at the US Senate

Twenty-one members out of 100 have confirmed the bill submitted by
Durbin from the Democrat Party and Ensign from the Republican Party.
Hillary Clinton, who used to support the Armenians, was not included
in this list of signatures.

After the US House of Representatives, the upper wing senate has been
submitted a bill to recognize the events regarding Armenians in the
last century as "genocide." According to the written announcement by
the American Armenian Assembly (AAA), Durbin from the Democrat Party
and Ensign from the Republican Party have submitted the bill.
Twenty-one members out of 100 have confirmed the bill with
signatures; however, Hillary Clinton, who used to support the
Armenians, was not included in this list of signatures.

PRESS RELEASE
Senator Barbara Boxer
Washington D.C.
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553

Dear Friend:

I wanted to let you know that I am cosponsoring Senate
Resolution 65, condemning the murder of Armenian journalist and
human rights advocate Hrant Dink. The text of the resolution
can be found below.

Hrant Dink offered a voice for freedom and truth about the
Armenian Genocide and the history of Armenian-Turkish
relations. His death will not silence his message.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

S. RES. 65

Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human
rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to
honor his legacy of tolerance.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2007

Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human
rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to
honor his legacy of tolerance.

Whereas Hrant Dink was a respected, eloquent advocate for press
freedom, human rights, and reconciliation;

Whereas, in 1996, Mr. Dink founded the weekly bilingual
newspaper Agos and, as the paper’s editor in chief, used the
paper to provide a voice for Turkey’s Armenian community;

Whereas Mr. Dink was a strong proponent of rapprochement
between Turks and Armenians and worked diligently to improve
relations between those communities;

Whereas Mr. Dink’s commitment to democratic values,
nonviolence, and freedom in the media earned him widespread
recognition and numerous international awards;

Whereas Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;

Whereas, notwithstanding hundreds of threats to Mr. Dink’s life
and safety, he remained a steadfast proponent of pluralism and
tolerance;

Whereas Mr. Dink was assassinated outside the offices of Agos
in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 19, 2007;

Whereas tens of thousands of people in Turkey of many
ethnicities protested Mr. Dink’s killing and took to the
streets throughout the country to honor his memory;

Whereas the Government of Turkey has pledged to undertake a
full investigation into the murder of Mr. Dink;

Whereas the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has
stated that when Mr. Dink was shot, `a bullet was fired at
freedom of thought and democratic life in Turkey’;

Whereas the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian,
stated that Mr. Dink `lived his life in the belief that there
can be understanding, dialogue and peace amongst peoples’; and

Whereas Mr. Dink’s tragic death affirmed the importance of
promoting the values that he championed in life: Now,
therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(1) condemns the murder of Hrant Dink as a shameful act of
cowardice perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and
decency;

(2) supports the pledge of the Government of Turkey to conduct
an exhaustive investigation into the assassination of Mr. Dink
and to prosecute those responsible;

(3) urges the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code and work diligently to foster a more open
intellectual environment in the country that is conducive to
the free exchange of ideas;

(4) recognizes the decision of the Government of Turkey to
invite senior Armenian religious and political figures to
participate in memorial services for Mr. Dink;

(5) calls on the Government of Turkey to act in the interest of
regional security and prosperity and reestablish full
diplomatic, political, and economic relations with the
Government of Armenia; and

(6) urges the people of Turkey to honor Mr. Dink’s legacy of
tolerance.

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ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN FMS TO MEET AGAIN TO DISCUSS KARABAKH SETLMNT

Itar-Tass News Agency, Russia
March 14 2007

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vartan Oskanyan and
Elmar Mamedyarov, will meet again in April to discuss the Karabakh
settlement. The Armenian Foreign Ministry announced this following
the talks of the ministers held in Geneva on Wednesday with the
participation of the co-chairmen of the Minsk group of the OSCE for
Nagorno-Karabakh (Russia, France and United States).

"The meeting followed the visit to the region by French co-chairman
of the Minsk group Bernard Fassier who, on behalf of his Russian and
American colleagues, tried to get a clearer notion of the stances of
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the run up to the foreign
ministers’ meeting," says the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s report.

"Despite the preparatory work, the talks proceed slowly," the Armenian
Foreign Ministry quotes Oskanyan as saying. "This time an attempt has
been made to discuss a second layer of details of the document on the
principles of settlement" of the Karabakh conflict, the minister said.

"Even though the sides have a clearer understanding of each other’s
positions, profound distinctions are apparent," Oskanyan said. "We
believe there still exist opportunities for progress to guarantee the
new meeting of the presidents, and we arranged for another meeting
in April," the minister said.

"Armenia adheres to the principles contained in the document that is
the subject of the talks," the foreign minister assured. "Despite
the fact that arrangements on numerous secondary questions are
still lacking, the principles contained in the document include
the fundamental questions essential for long-term settlement of the
conflict," Oskanyan said.

Although the talks were confidential, the mediators made public
back in June last the main provisions of the draft principles of the
agreement on the Karabakh settlement they referred for consideration
of Armenia and Azerbaijan. These are the framework agreement that,
specifically, calls for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
occupied territories in Azerbaijan, normalization of economic and
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the stationing
of peacekeepers, and international economic assistance to the region.

And finally, a referendum on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh
will be held at some stage.

ANCA CHAIRMAN SENDS A LETTER TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 13:13

Chairman of the Armenian National committee of Americ Ken Hachikian
has sent a letter to the editor of "The Wall Street Journal," printed
March 12, 2007, exposing earlier misleading assertions by former US
Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris regarding Congressional reaffirmation
of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National committee of America
(ANCA) reports.

The letter reads in part: "In his March 3 editorial-page commentary
"Don’t Go Cold on Turkey," former US Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris
opposes US recognition of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. His
main contention is that this will result in a "train wreck" with an
important, long-standing American ally.

Amb. Parris and the other opponents of honestly recognizing this crime
are once again crying wolf. "Train wrecks" were loudly but falsely
predicted before President Reagan’s 1981 public affirmation of the
Armenian genocide, the 1984 designation by the House of April 24 as
a day for its remembrance, as well as before the amendments passed
by the House in 1996 and 2004 restricting US aid to Turkey based on
its denial of this crime against humanity.

Despite threats of retribution, Turkey has taken only token steps
against the European Parliament, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland and other states and international bodies that have
recognized the Armenian genocide," ANCA Chairman wrote in the letter.

KARABAKH GOVERNMENT ON INTERPOL RECORDS?

KarabakhOpen
13-03-2007 14:52:22

The law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan continue to prosecute the
best representatives of the Artsakh society, including the national
heroes, even the killed, and sentence them for life, stated President
Arkady Ghukasyan a few days ago answering the question of Professor
Socrat Khanyan. Socrat Khanyan says the Yasmal Court of Baku sentenced
him to ten years in prison. "This is a tragedy for Azerbaijan first
of all because it implies that we can never reach agreement with
them. If these people are inclined to settle the issue and find points
in common, they should act differently. Today "thanks" to Azerbaijan
70 Karabakhis, most of them members of government of the country,
have appeared on the records of Interpol," said Arkady Ghukasyan.

"The problem will not be solved unless Azerbaijan stops the
anti-Armenian propaganda, instills in its public that the Armenians
as neighbors," said the president, underlining that the international
community is either reluctant or unable to influence Azerbaijan.

HASAN AL ATRASH COMPLETES HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert
Kocharian on March 13 had a farewell meeting with Hasan Al Atrash,
Head of the International Monetary Fund Armenia Mission. According to
the RA President’s press service, the sides appreciated the current
level of cooperation, noting that it proceeds efficiently. The
interlocutors spoke about implemented and future programs. In
particular, issues related to tax and customs reforms, development
of the securities market, improvement of the banking and insurance
systems were discussed.

LE PRINTEMPS DES POèTES ARMENIENS

La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest
Edition INDRE ET LOIRE
13 mars 2007 mardi

Dans le cycle de l’annee de l’Armenie en France, et faisant suite
a l’exposition des photos " Reves fragiles " d’Antoine Agoudjian,
en janvier dernier, une rencontre viendra completer l’exposition
actuelle des planches de la BD de Farid Boudjellal " Meme d’Armenie
", vendredi 16 mars a la bibliothèque municipale.

Baptisee " Printemps des poètes armeniens ", il s’agit d’une lecture
de poesie armenienne, en francais et en armenien.

Et ce sont des jeunes de l’Union des Armeniens du Centre qui auront
la noble tâche, une heure durant, de faire passer le souffle poetique
de leur pays.

La rencontre et lecture auront lieu a 18 h 30, dans la bibliothèque,
dont l’entree sera libre.

–Boundary_(ID_GBhae8gD5xJN5nej39M67A)–

ARAM I CATHOLICOS RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 12 2007

ANTELIAS, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Aram I Catholicos
received on March 9 Yoshihisa Kurota, the newly appointed Ambassador
of Japan to Lebanon. Local and international political developments,
especially efforts addressed to overcoming of the Near East crisis,
were discussed during the meeting. His Holiness Patriarch presented
the Ambassador his notions in the sense of re-establishing political
stability in Lebanon, emphasizing the necessity of a dialogue and
imperative need to stop the political debate. His Holiness also
attached importance to inner unification and necessity of strengthening
mutual confidence among communities. At the end of the conversation
His Holiness Patriarch touched upon his visit paid to Japan as well
as importance of dialogue with the Buddhist religion and, in general,
interchurch dialogue and cooperation.

TURKISH HEAD OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY REJECTS ARMENIAN BILL

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Turkish Press
March 12 2007

ANKARA – Chairman of the Turkish group at the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly Vahit Erdem denounced Monday an Armenian bill submitted to
the US House of Representatives, saying that it lacked any legal and
scientific base.

"Genocide allegations devised by the Armenian propaganda is being
used as a political leverage against Turkey," Erdem said in a written
statement.

"The draft bill submitted to the House of Representatives fails
to recount how the incidents of 1915 erupted or the killings of the
Muslim people at the hands of Armenian gangs," Erdem added, qualifying
the bill as one-sided.

Erdem also said that Turkey was exerting intense efforts to end what
he called "the wrong course of affairs."

"Republic of Turkey will never consent to this injustice," he said.

"SPECIAL SECURITY" ADVICE TO PATRIARCH

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Turkish Press
March 12 2007

Turkish Armenians Patriarch Mesrob II applied to Istanbul governorship
after assassination of Hrant Dink and asked for measures to be taken
in the schools that belong to the religious community. On February
20th, a letter from Istanbul Police, signed by governor (Muammer)
Guler arrived. The letter said the security forces will frequently
inspect the mentioned institutions. The letter also referred to article
no. 5188 which allows individuals and institutions to establish special
armed forces. It said, "I ask you to take the necessary measures on
the basis of article no 5188."

SABAH (LIBERAL)