Author: Tavakalian Edgar

PAPAL CONDOLENCES FOR BLACK SEA CRASH VICTIMS

Catholic World News
May 3 2006

May. 03 (CWNews.com) – Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) has sent his
condolences, and assurance of his prayers, to the families of victims
of an airplane crash on the Black Sea.

All 113 people traveling aboard an Armenian plane were presumed dead
after a flight disappeared over the sea on a flight from Yerevan,
the Armenian capital, to the resort town of Sotchi.

Writing on behalf of the Pope, Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio – news),
the Vatican Secretary of State, sent a message of sympathy by telegram
to Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the apostolic nuncio in Armenia. The
message commended the crash victims to “the mercy of the Lord, asking
Him to welcome them into his kingdom of peace.”

WHO IS WHO IN POLITICAL CRITERIA CRISIS?
Selcuk Gultasli

Zaman Online, Turkey
May 2 2006

Has the crisis over the political criteria which had the potential to
sentence the negotiations to absolute failure even before the start
of actual talks or to exaggerate a little bit, make the talks drag on
for a century like “the Hundred Years’ War” been solved or postponed?

The European Union (EU) has once more created a sui generic solution
enabling each and every member country to interpret the decision
befitting its own domestic political agenda. As you probably know, it
is defined as “constructive ambiguity” in the Brussels lexicon. That
is, the EU avoids undertaking any responsibility whatsoever regarding
Turkey’s future membership, which means ambiguity; meanwhile, the EU,
on the other hand, encourages Turkey to make reforms in the country,
which is the “constructive” part.

Many EU experts in Turkey say the crisis was solved amicably implying
France has backtracked. It is impossible for France to take a backward
step. It is strained optimism to think that France, which has been
using the Armenian “genocide” in a disgusting manner in a bid to end
Turkey’s EU journey right at the very beginning and which has already
started the electioneering, would make a U-turn.

The French mind, which has prepared a draft law – expected to be
brought to Parliament’s floor on May 18, which will likely pass –
stipulating penalty for the deniers of the Armenian “genocide,”
is also keeping the political criteria issue in its stock.

France, proud of being the first country in the world to ratify the
“genocide” law, is now preparing for a second success (!) by being the
first to stipulate “the penalty for deniers.” Belgium that emulates
French policies will probably pass the bill swiftly.

However, France will not discuss what was done in Algeria, nor will
Belgium talk about the genocidal colonization of Congo. Naturally,
to punish the Turks is an easier way of clearing Western conscience.

Getting back to the issue of the political criteria, France is of the
opinion that the English word “benchmark” does not exist in French
and that the expression, in a way, means political criteria. Any
EU member would be able to bring up the issue because this debate
went into the EU minutes. Anyhow, letters containing “benchmark,”
interpreted as political criteria by the French, will be sent to
Turkey for tough chapters.

We know Greek Cypriots firmly supported France while Greece
reconsidered its stance due to the gravity of the consequences. We
should concede that Finland, Britain, and Spain acted according took
a principled stance knowing that the issue was brought up to prevent
Turkey from joining the EU. These three countries suggested that Turkey
has faced enough difficulties in its EU bid and the political criteria
issue will spark unnecessary and endless debate. It is not a surprise
that Angela Merkel’s Germany, which orchestrates the “privileged
partnership” chorus, placed itself somewhere between Finland, Britain,
Spain and France. What is surprising is that Italy; Turkey’s so-called
advocate in the EU did not join the three-party alliance.

According to many diplomats in Brussels, the political criteria crisis
has now been postponed. Some members which have not been satisfied
with the 71 veto rights on Turkey’s accession process can not even
stand the snail’s pace of talks. To summarize, it is in our best
interest to carry on the EU process as long as it can move.

Globe and Mail, Canada
April 29 2006

‘Like coming to my house’

At a tiny Beaches restaurant, hospitality, Armenian-style, knows no
bounds
IAN HARVEY

Special to The Globe and Mail

It’s Saturday night in the Beaches and Raffi Asparian is in full
stride.

“Here,” he says to a couple seated in his tiny Queen Street East
storefront restaurant, Arax, which is named after the Armenian river.
“Try this. It’s good.”

He offers one of the diners a morsel of sausage from the plate he’s
carrying, then sweeps off to set the plate down at another table in
front of the guest who had ordered it.

“You need more from the bar. You help yourself. I’m busy,” he
suggests to another thirsty customer.

It’s Mr. Asparian’s way. He’s just as likely to pull up a chair and
join you as he is to help himself to a glass of wine from your table
or extend an invitation to dance — all the while maintaining a
staccato stream of cordial conversation about life, love and
business. And that’s just during his evening shift. Fired with
restless energy, the gregarious restaurateur also owns and runs Jewel
on the Beach, a jewellery store across the street, where he begins
his workday at noon, closing up at 5 p.m. to open the restaurant.

All of this he’s been doing single-handedly, from running the
jewellery business to greeting, cooking and serving the
Mediterranean-influenced food at his 26-seat eatery.

But after years of juggling two jobs, that crazy Armenian guy, as
he’s more familiarly known in the neighbourhood, is finally taking a
break. Next month, he’ll turn the jewellery store over to son Jacob,
22. Which will leave Mr. Asparian free to finally enjoy a few
afternoons off.

“I don’t want my kids to work in the [restaurant] business,” he says.
“It’s too hard. It takes you away from your family.

“I want them to have a normal life.”

Still, it’s clear to most customers that Mr. Asparian, a fixture on
the strip for 14 years, enjoys the restaurant business. And the
lifestyle appears to suit him.

While he posts official hours for the restaurant, he often decides
when he has had enough for the night, and sometimes leaves his diners
to close up.

“He’s actually slowed down, believe it or not,” notes Charles
Farrugia, president of Datacom and a regular from the days when Mr.
Asparian’s family ran a restaurant at Avenue Road and Eglinton.
“[Arax] is not really a restaurant as much as a tourist attraction. I
love to bring people there. My parents, even, they love him.

“He has this incredible recollection and treats people like he’s
known them all his life. He loves to interact.”

“I survive because of my customers,” says Mr. Asparian, who is 52.
“They keep me in business. When they eat at my restaurant, it’s like
coming to my house.”

Whether at the store or the restaurant, he greets customers as if he
knows them, and banters brusquely, in the way old friends josh and
chide each other.

“I thought he was drunk or crazy,” says Margaret Czaja, recalling how
she met him 12 years ago when she dropped by for drinks after
finishing her shift at a Polish restaurant. “He sat down, grabbed my
wine and drank it. Then he brings another round for the table, and
the next day he sent flowers.”

It was the start of what turned out to be a long-term friendship.

Armenian by way of Lebanon, Mr. Asparian’s family opened the first
incarnation of Arax in 1975 when they arrived in Canada. The food was
much as it is today, a mix of Mediterranean, along with more Middle
Eastern Armenian dishes. Over the years, the business migrated to
different locations, some big, some smaller, at Bathurst and
Lawrence, Warden and Lawrence, and finally the Beaches.

“What a country Canada is,” he says, repeating the classic
immigrant’s mantra. “You work hard and you have success. Don’t tell
me you can’t get a job. I have two.”

But from now on, he’ll have just one, and regular diners at Arax are
glad he’s chosen to stick with the restaurant gig.

“If I did some of the things he’s done, I’d be in jail,” laughs Steve
Ferguson, who has followed Mr. Asparian across the city for 30 years.
“He gets away with it, though. It’s always a party and fun.”

PRESS RELEASE
ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St.
Tarzana, CA 91356
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARPA Institute presents the Lecture/Seminar:”The Importance of the
Diaspora in shaping the Armenian National Identity,” by Razmik
Panossian, Ph.D., on Friday, May 5, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Merdinian
school auditorium.

The Address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: on the 101 FWY exit on Woodman, go north and turn right on
Riverside Dr.

Abstract: The Armenian diaspora has played a crucial role in the
construction of Armenian national identity. This lecture will analyze
this process, and argue that Armenian identity has historically
evolved in a multi-local manner, often far away from the
homeland. Consequently, deep divisions exist within the Armenian
nation, and yet the subjective sense of belonging unites people around
the notion of `Armenianness.’ The lecture is based on Panossian’s
newly published book, The Armenians: From Kings and Priests to
Merchants and Commissars (Columbia University Press, 2006. The book
will be available after the lecture).

Razmik Panossian has published numerous articles including, `The Past
as Nation: The Evolution of Armenian Identity,’ Geopolitics, 7:2,
2002; `The Irony of Nagorno-Karabakh: Formal Institutions versus
Informal Politics,’ Regional and Federal Studies, 11: 3, 2001; `The
Diaspora and the Karabagh Movement’ in L. Chorbajian (ed.), The Making
of Nagorno-Karabagh, 2001; `Between Ambivalence and Intrusion:
Politics and Identity in Armenia-Diaspora Relations.’ Diaspora: A
Journal of Transnational Studies, 7:2, 1998 (1999). His previous book
was a co-edited volume entitled Nationalism and History: The Politics
of Nation Building in Post-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
(Toronto, 1994). Panossian has taught at the Department of Government,
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also
defended his PhD dissertation in 2000. The thesis won the Lord Bryce
Prize for Best Dissertation in Comparative and International Politics
in the UK (granted by UK Political Studies Association). He is
currently based in Canada and working in the field of human rights and
international democratic development.

For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660

The Indian Armenian Community observes the 91st Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide

Azad-Hye, Dubai: On 24th April Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, the Manager of the
Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy (ACPA), performed a requiem
service for the souls of the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Church
compound, near the Memorial Stone dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.
At the end of the service Fr. Gulgulian addressed the congregation and
reminded them never to forget the sacred memory of our martyrs.

The service was attended by His Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador of
the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Church Committee, members of the
Calcutta Armenian community and the ACPA students. The representatives of
the Armenian Church and the Community placed wreaths on the tomb of the
Unknown Solder.

Rev. Fr. Oshagan, accompanied by the members of the Armenian Church
Committee, paid a visit to “Future Hope”, a philanthropic organisation
dedicated to the welfare of children, where 120 homeless children are cared
for. Fr. Oshagan handed over to the representative of the organisation, on
behalf of the Armenian Church, a cheque, the proceeds of which will feed the
children for one week.

In the evening Fr. Oshagan, His Excellency the Ambassador of Armenia and Mr.
Haik Sookias, Chairman, Armenian Church Committee, planted an evergreen tree
(see photo) in the compounds of the Collage, in memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims, which was followed by a memorial evening.

The evening was opened by Deacon Tigran Baghumyan, the Administrator of the
ACPA. Ambassador Ashot Kocharian read the manifesto signed by the President
of Armenia Mr. Robert Kocharian on the occasion of the 91st Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. The Ambassador gave a brief talk dedicated to the
Genocide. During the evening the audience was shown a documentary film
dedicated to the Genocide.

The evening was also attended by the Consul General of Cyprus, Slovakia,
representatives of the Russian Consulate, Head of the Cultural Centre,
members of the Armenian Community and the students of the ACPA.

See photos and Armenian text at:
140afg54

JIM TOROSIAN AND GEGHAM GRIGORIAN AWARDED WITH MEDALS
By Melania Badalian

AZG Armenian Daily
27/04/2006

The Press Service of Holy Etchmiadzin informed that Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, awarded outstanding Armenian architect
Jim Torosian and Gegham Grigorian, art director of the Yerevan State
Opera and Ballet Theatre, with St. Sahak and St. Mersop medals for
their service and contribution to the Armenian culture.

In the opening speech of the award ceremony, T. Nerses Archbishop
Pozapalian touched upon the creative life and achievements of these
two prominent figures of the Armenian culture. At the same time,
he highly estimated the attention of Catholicos Karekin II to the
Armenian culture.

Professor Varazdat Harutyunian and poet Seyran Zakarian also highly
estimated the creative achievements of Jim Torosian and Gegham
Grigorian.

The relevant decrees of Karekin II were read by T. Arshak Archbishop
Khachatrian and T. Paren Archbishop Avetikian. Jim Torosian and
Gegham Grigorian expressed their deep gratitude to Karekin II for
the award. The Supreme Patriarch’s speech closed the award ceremony.

ARMENIAN CINEMATOGRAPHERS ANNOYED

Panorama.am
16:01 25/04/06

President of Cinematographers’ Union in Armenia Rouben Gevorgyants
informed Panorama.am that Armenian cinematographers are annoyed at
the fact of attack on their colleague in Moscow. As he said after the
mean attack on Michael Dovlatyan in Moscow his state can be estimated
as satisfactory. R. Gevorgyants mentioned that the information has
been provided to him by Dovlatyan himself over the telephone. “I know
that those who attacked him were drunk young people who hit him with
a bottle from his back.

Fortunately Dovlatyan seized the bottle a little thus weakening
the hit,” he said. In the meantime the artist condemns the violence
against the Armenian cinematographer in Moscow in these days when
days of Armenia are being held in Russia.

To remind, on April 23 the secretary of Armenian Cinematographers’
Union Michel Dovlatyan was attacked and hurt with a bottle at the
head in Moscow.

SENATOR FINDS UNLIKELY SUPPORT FROM METAL BAND
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer

Scripps Howard News Service, DC
April 25 2006

WASHINGTON — Concern over Armenian genocide is bringing together
soft-spoken Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., and one of the loudest heavy
metal bands in the business this week.

The Armenian-American group System of A Down, known for an eclectic
repertoire and rapid, screaming lyrics, is scheduled to visit Allard’s
office Wednesday afternoon.

The visit is to thank Allard for co-sponsoring symbolic legislation
casting a spotlight on the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million ethnic
Armenians under Ottoman Empire rule in the early 20th Century.

The band, known for political lyrics, has made remembering the Armenian
genocide a cause celebre, and its Web site urges fans worldwide to
pressure their representatives to remember crimes against humanity.

On the surface, Allard and the band would seem to have little in
common.

While Allard is quiet and conservative, the band is, uhm, not.

Its song list includes the song “F_- the System.” One song, “B.Y.O.B.,”
includes the lyrics “Why don’t presidents fight the war?

Why do they always send the poor?”

And then there are profanity-laced songs like “Cigaro,” which includes
bragging references to various male physical attributes and repeated
lines like, “My s_- stinks much better than yours.” (That’s one of
the more family-friendly lines.)

So is the band’s music on Allard’s iPod?

“Sen. Allard does not yet own an iPod,” chief of staff Sean Conway
reports.

“Sen. Allard is aware the band is heavy metal and has strong ‘political
lyrics’ in their songs, but he admires the band members for their
standing up for what they believe in, and for their strong support
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,” Conway said.

TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE IN 9 YEARS

Panorama.am
16:00 24/04/06

The president of pan-Armenian compatriotic union “Yerevan and
Yerevanians” Yeghia Shamshyan is sure that Turkey will have recognized
the criminal action it carried out at the beginning of the century
by the 100th anniversary of the Great Armenian Genocide. “If such
humanistic countries as France, Germany and Russia have recognized
the fact of the genocide, then Turkey will also have to do the same
to remove the blemish from the nation,” Y. Shamshyan says.

The president of “Orran” (Cradle) charity organization Armenuhi
Hovhannisyan also thinks that her contemporaries will face the day when
Turkey will admit the fact of the Genocide. “I have learned about the
great massacre from the stories of my grandmothers and grandfathers
full of tears. And today I come to pay a tribute of respect to the
memory of millions of our compatriots. I come here with a kind of sad
feeling but in the meantime I swear to myself that I must be able to
bring up a generation which will be sure that those dark days of our
nation must never repeat again.”

ARMENIAN FILM DIRECTOR ATTACKED IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 04:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Another Armenian – Secretary of the Union of
Cinematographers of Armenia Mikayel Dovlatyan – is attacked in Moscow,
report participants of the Forum of National Cinematography. According
to them, Sunday in Oktyabrskaya metro pedestrian crossing a group
of unknown persons attacked Dovlatyan. He was hit on his head with
a bottle, then those attacking “fled in a cowardly manner.” The
participants of the Forum of National Cinematography addressed the
Moscow and federal authorities. “Cases similar to that, which happened
to Mikayel Dovlatyan, can have extremely destructive impact on our
humanitarian cooperation,” their statement says. “We urge leaders
of Russia and Moscow not to admit it,” the statement runs. The open
letter is signed by heads of the Confederation of the Unions of
Cinematographers, as well as heads of the Unions of Cinematographers
of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan,
reports the Ekho Moskvy.