Author: Toganian Liana

Anatolia news agency, Turkey
Sept 7 2008

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS EU WELCOMES TURKISH PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO
ARMENIA

Avignon, 7 September: EU term president France’s Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner said on Saturday [6 September] that Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s visiting Yerevan (for Armenia-Turkey soccer game) was
important in the aspect of re-establishing the contact between the two
countries.

Speaking to reporters after an informal meeting of EU foreign
ministers in France, Kouchner said that the visit of Gul and Turkish
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to Yerevan should be considered beyond a
soccer match. Kouchner added that EU welcomed the visit.

Kouchner also said that the crisis in Caucasus was high on the agenda
of EU foreign ministers meeting, adding that Babacan briefed the
participants about Turkey’s Caucasus Stability Pact proposal.

Russia accuses West of provocation
Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:58pm BST
By Oleg Shchedrov and Aidar Buribayev

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the
United States on Saturday of provoking Moscow by using warships to
deliver relief aid to its ally Georgia, with which Russia fought a
brief war last month.

"I wonder how they would feel if we now dispatched humanitarian
assistance to the Caribbean, suffering from a hurricane, using our
navy," Medvedev said, adding that a whole U.S. fleet had been
dispatched to deliver the aid.

Russia has also accused U.S. warships of rearming Tbilisi’s defeated
army, a charge dismissed as "ridiculous" by Washington.

Vice President Dick Cheney stepped up U.S. criticism of Russia’s
actions in Georgia, accusing Moscow of reverting to old tactics of
intimidation and of using "brute force."

NATO has rejected talk of a buildup of its warships in the Black Sea,
saying their recent presence in the region was part of routine
exercises.

The biggest U.S. ship to arrive so far, the USS Mount Whitney, dropped
anchor on Friday off the Russian-patrolled Georgian port of Poti.

Medvedev, speaking at a meeting of his advisory state council, said he
had summoned the council to discuss changes in Russia’s foreign and
security policy after the war.

Tension between Moscow and the West had eased when the OSCE security
body said on Saturday Russia was allowing its observers to circulate
freely throughout Georgia, but the breakaway Georgian region Abkhazia
later said it was forging military cooperation with Moscow.

"We’ve had very good access. I think we’re working at it and the
Russians are, I’d argue, opening up," said Finnish Foreign Minister
Alexander Stubb in Avignon, chairman in office of the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The OSCE report comes days before French President Nicolas Sarkozy
travels to Moscow for talks with Medvedev to assess Russian
compliance with a French-brokered peace plan.

The European Union agreed on Saturday to send an "autonomous mission"
to Georgia to monitor Russia’s withdrawal from occupied territory,
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said, accusing Moscow of
failing to respect several points in the peace plan.

CHENEY CRITICISM
Russia and Georgia fought a brief but intense war after Tbilisi sent
in troops to try to seize back the rebel region of South Ossetia,
provoking massive retaliation by Moscow.

The conflict has dented confidence in the Caucasus as an energy
transit route — Georgia is at the heart of two crucial oil and gas
pipelines which bring high-quality crude and gas from booming oil
state Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey.

Cheney, speaking in Italy after a tour of former Soviet states
including Georgia, said Russia’s leaders "cannot have things both
ways".

"They cannot presume to gather up all the benefits of commerce,
consultation, and global prestige, while engaging in brute force,
threats, or other forms of intimidation against sovereign democratic
countries," he said.

Analysts have also questioned the feasibility of the ambitious Nabucco
gas pipeline project, which would bring Caspian Sea gas to Europe via
Georgia, reducing reliance on Russia.

Russian stocks and the rouble have been hurt as foreign investors pull
money out because of increased political risk.

The West has stepped up support for Georgia to join NATO — a move
Moscow op poses on the ground that Georgia is in its sphere of
influence — since Russia recognised the Georgian breakaway rebel
regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

So far only Nicaragua has followed Russia’s lead in recognising the
two provinces as independent. In a setback for Russia, its ex-Soviet
security allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation stopped
short of doing so late last week.

Tbilisi and Western states have accused Russia of annexation, a claim
Moscow sharply denies.

On Saturday self-styled Abkhaz president Sergei Bagapsh said he
expected to reach agreement with Moscow soon on military cooperation.

"We’re insisting (on military cooperation) and we will ask the Russian
Federation to leave Russian troops in Abkhazia," Bagapsh told
reporters in the Russian capital, adding that the agreement should be
signed within the next few days in Moscow.

"(The Russian military) will also probably be in front of the security
zone," he said, referring to a zone set up on the Abkhaz boundary in
the early 1990s, when the province fought off Georgian rule. Russian
peacekeepers have been based there since.

Hostilities in Georgia have given new impetus to efforts to prevent
other conflict in the broader Caucasus region.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul paid a landmark visit to neighbouring
long-time foe Armenia on Saturday to attend a soccer match he said
could help end a century of mutual hostility and aid regional
security.

(Reporting by Oleg Shchedrov and Aidar Buribayev in Moscow, Mark John
and Francois Murphy in Avignon, Paul de Bendern in Yerevan; writing by
Amie Ferris-Rotman, editing by Dominic Evans)

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 5 2008

US DIPLOMAT PRAISES ARMENIAN, TURKISH PRESIDENTS’ "COURAGE" TO MEET

Yerevan, 5 September: U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza said in his exclusive
interview with Mediamax that "we welcome the courage that Armenian and
Turkish Presidents have shown by agreeing to meet".

Commenting on Mediamax’s request the Turkish President’s upcoming
visit to Yerevan, Matthew Bryza said: "We welcome the courage both
Presidents have shown by agreeing to meet. They demonstrated wisdom in
embracing a football match as an opportunity to create new openings in
pursuit of peace and prosperity".

"This meeting reflects the reality that for centuries, the people of
Turkey and Armenia have inhabited a common Anatolian home. We hope
this meeting will generate accelerated progress toward a just and
lasting settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, which must
proceed from the principle of respect for Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, and evolve into a political compromise that incorporates
other principles of international law and diplomatic practice",
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State told Mediamax.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza expressed disagreement in his exclusive
interview with Mediamax with the opinion that the Russian-Georgian
crisis will "kill" the Armenian complementary foreign policy.

"Armenia is an independent country with a sovereign government elected
by its citizens. It can pursue any path it wishes. The United States,
which is immensely more powerful than Russia, is a close friend of
Armenia’s, and remains committed to helping Armenia achieve the goals
of its complementary foreign policy", Matthew Bryza told Mediamax.

U.S. diplomat also noted that "Russia’s invasion of Georgia, during
which Russia bombed Georgia’s railroad and Poti port and tried to cut
off the free flow of goods across Georgia, also hurt Armenia".

"We hope to see additional transit routes open up that will link
Armenia and Georgia to global markets, notwithstanding Russian
attempts to strangle Georgia’s economy and overthrow Georgia’s
democratically elected government," U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State said.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza expressed hope in his exclusive interview with
Mediamax that "the OSCE Minsk Group can continue in its previous way,
though Russia’s relations with all of us in the West are undergoing
profound change".

Matthew Bryza said this commenting the statements of some U.S. experts
who suggest that after the Russian-Georgian war the cooperation of the
U.S. and Russia within the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group
will be impossible.

"As President Bush and Secretary Rice have made clear, now is not the
time for business as usual with Russia. At the same time, the U.S.,
Russia, and France have accomplished a great deal within the Minsk
Group. Speaking personally, I am deeply fond of Russian Co-Chair
Ambassador Yuriy Merzlyakov, who is a talented diplomat, a wise
analyst, and a wonderful person," Matthew Bryza said.

"Regardless of what happens in the nearest future with the OSCE Minsk
Group, the United States, my superiors, and I personally will only
intensify our efforts to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a just and
lasting settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict," Chief
U.S. Negotiator stressed.

REFUGEE LAW LEGAL CLINIC OPENED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. With the united efforts of the
Armenian office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and American Bar Association Refugee Law Legal Clinic was
opened in Loris Kalashyan Open University of Armenia on September 2.
The main purpose of the institution is to provide refugee law clinical
education, to ensure provision of free of charge legal assistance to
refugees and asylum seekers as well as other persons of UNHCR concern.

Starting with this academic year, eight universities in Armenia have
included the course of refugee law clinical education in their
educational programs.

Since 2003, with the support of American Bar Association, two Legal
Clinics in Gavar State University and Progress University of Gyumri
have been established and are successfully functioning. In 2008 the
Association established a Clinic in Kapan for vulnerable groups of the
society. In the near future UNHCR is entering into agreement with the
Legal Clinics of Yerevan State University, of Progress University of
Gyumri and of Gavar State University for similar services to refugees.

Synopsys Week to Kick off in Armenia on Sep 29

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. A high-tech week of Synopsys will kick of
in Armenia on September 29, reported Rich Goldman, general director of
Synopsys Armenia.

He approved of the four-year successful business of the company in
local market.

The weak points of the country’s high-tech market are lack of business
infrastructures, major problems with the Internet communication,
education and tax laws, Goldman added.

According to him, local IT market has become more attractive for the
past two years.

Human resources serve as a basis for IT development in Armenia,
according to Goldman. He said Synopsys plans to showcase Armenia’s
achievements in high-tech sector and education within a week.

Synopsys, Inc established its presence in Armenia in 2004, shortly
after Armenia’s declaration of IT as a priority sector. Since then, the
company has become one of the largest Synopsys sites outside of the
United States providing R&D and product support in the areas of EDA,
Design for Manufacturing and development of semiconductor IP.`0–

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Megan Swan
DATE: September 6, 2008 Tel: 416-250-9807

Isabel Bayrakdarian’s `Remembrance Tour,’ Sponsored by Zoryan Institute,
Dedicated To All Victims of Genocide

Toronto – The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute) (the IIGHRS) is honoured to sponsor the
Remembrance Concert Tour, as it is dedicated to the victims of all
genocides. The tour features the music of Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935),
starring Isabel Bayrakdarian, who has captivated audiences all over the
world with her beautiful and moving soprano voice.

Why is the IIGHRS sponsoring such a concert tour? Perhaps it has been best
expressed by Isabel Bayrakdarian, herself. `Their objective is to raise
awareness of genocide, this gross violation of human rights, through the
concert tour’s profound theme of remembrance.’

George Shirinian, the institute’s Executive Director, stated, `We believe in
using every opportunity and medium to educate the public at large about this
heinous crime, and in this case through the musical genius of Gomidas, and
Isabel’s interpretation of it. Defending truth and human rights is
everybody’s business. We must all do our part.’

`Gomidas, who collected, purified and preserved the essence of Armenian
music, had his life and music interrupted by the Armenian Genocide,’
explained Greg Sarkissian, President of the Zoryan Institute. `Only God
knows how many other musical and artistic geniuses have been lost to
humanity due to the many genocides in the past seven decades alone – Cambodia,
the Jewish Holocaust, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, and now Darfur. It
is therefore imperative that we use this venue to bring about the awareness
of and the sensitivity for this universal trauma. It is equally important
that the survivors of genocide and their descendants, whatever their
ethnicity, generously support our institute for such a large
undertaking – stretching from New York to San Francisco, from Vancouver to
Toronto – not only by attending the concert itself, but also by helping the
institute underwrite the enormous costs involved.’

Through Serouj and Isabel’s journey of discovery with Gomidas, they learned
that one doesn’t have to be Armenian to be touched by his work. There is a
mystical and a universally soul-stirring quality to his songs, with an air
of blissful sadness and child-like simplicity that captures and moves the
listener regardless of nationality, race, or religion.

Given that the trauma of the Armenian Genocide is also part of Isabel’s
identity, as the grandchild of a survivor, her working with Zoryan’s IIGHRS
is a natural partnership.

As Serouj Kradjian noted, `On April 24, 1915 Gomidas Vartabed was one of 300
Armenian intellectuals arrested and deported in the first stage of the
Armenian Genocide masterminded by the Ottoman government, during the course
of which some one-and-a-half million Armenians perished. Due to the efforts
of United States Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Gomidas was one of the few to
return alive, only to find that he had lost everything – friends, students,
and most of his life’s work. He succumbed to intense physical and mental
anguish, became a ghost of his former vigorous self, and never composed or
sang again. He died in a mental institution near Paris on October 22, 1935.
Gomidas purified Armenian music of all foreign influences and gave it back
to its people, laying the foundations of a national music culture. This
explains his rightful recognition as the `father of Armenian classical
music.”

`The program of the concert tour is woven around the orchestral arrangements
of Gomidas’ folk songs and relates to the music and culture of all
persecuted nations,’ explains Isabel. `There are other gems included in
this unique program,’ she added, `such as Maurice Ravel’s `Kaddish,’ a
prayer which is one of the masterpieces of Jewish liturgy, `Three Pieces in
the Olden Style’ by Henryk Gorecki, best known for his stunning `Symphony of
Sorrowful Songs’ depicting misery and death in a Gestapo cell, and Nikos
Skalkottas’ undiscovered `Greek Dances.’

According to Atom Egoyan, `Serouj Kradjian has provided arrangements of
sublime sensitivity, carefully harnessing the alternately meditative and
expressive gestures so specific to Gomidas’ music. There are moments – such as
the end of `Karoun a’ (It’s Springtime), where Kradjian’s effects are truly
miraculous.’

`The songs of Gomidas have a very special place in my heart,’ Isabel
confided. `I feel each song encapsulates in it the pride of the Armenian
people and its tenacity and determination to survive despite its difficult
history. As one of my earliest artistic compasses, these songs – with their
unique nuances and inflections – continue to influence everything I sing,
interpret, and express,’ she concluded.

Gracing the front cover of the June/July 2008 issue of Opera Canada, Isabel
Bayrakdarian is admired as much for her stunning stage presence as for her
exceptional musicality, and she has followed a unique career path completely
her own. Since winning first prize at the 2000 Operalia competition founded
by Placido Domingo, she has burst onto the international opera scene,
gracing the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, La Scala,
Paris Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Salzburger Festspiele, Dresden Semperoper,
Bavarian State Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company among others. Singing
under the baton of such eminent conductors as James Conlon, David Zinman,
Michael Tilson-Thomas, Mariss Jansons, Leonard Slatkin, James Levine, Peter
Ounjian and Richard Bradshaw. She has won four consecutive Junos (Canada’s
equivalent of the Grammys) for her work. She sings on the Grammy
award-winning soundtrack of the blockbuster film The Lord of the Rings: The
Two Towers, and her voice can also be heard in the multiple award-winning
Canadian film Ararat. She is also the subject of a film entitled A Long
Journey Home that documents her first trip to Armenia. A collection of
songs by Gomidas, recorded with her husband and the Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra, will be released on Nonesuch Records to coincide with the concert
tour.

Apart from her musical accomplishments, she holds an honors degree in
Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto.

2008 North American Tour Dates & Venues

San Francisco Performances, Herbst Theatre – October 3
Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
– October 5
Vancouver Symphony, Orpheum Theatre – October 7
Toronto, Roy Thomson Hall – October 17
Boston Celebrity Series, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall – October 19
New York City, Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall – October 20

For more information on Isabel Bayrakdarian, please visit

The IIGHRS’s mission is to encourage a new generation of scholars to engage
in research and publication in the field of genocide and human rights
studies. This is achieved through a comparative and interdisciplinary
analysis of such cases of genocide as the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambodian
Genocide, and the Rwandan Genocide, among others, using the Armenian
Genocide as the point of reference. It seeks to help develop an academic
support system for those who work toward the prevention of genocide. It
strives to show, through the study of the genocidal traumas of many peoples,
that genocide is a shared human experience and that, as such, it must be the
concern of all individuals and institutions.

For more information, visit , email
[email protected], or telephone (416) 250-9807.

HISTORIC MOMENT OF REDEMPTION
By H. Avedikian

AZG Armenian Daily
05/09/2008

Armenia-Turkey

Irrespective of the contents and both the possible and impossible
consequences, the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan
will be a historic one. None of the leaders of Turkey have ever visited
the First, the Second (Soviet) or the Third Republics of Armenia. None
of the sultans, pashas or other figures of the Ottoman Empire have
visited Eastern Armenia either. Instead, Turkey, especially in the
period of the First Republic of Armenia sent its armies to ruin,
conquer and impose ultimatums. And now….

Footbal, and sports in general, create special atmosphere for…. not
reflecting upon such unnatural historical and political facts. Such
opportunity, even in case of not being realized, lays no liabilities
upon the guest, and, of course, the host. "We went to support
our sportsmen". And that’s it. In that case sending a retaliatory
invitation to the host (Armenian President Serge Sarkisian in this
case) would be quite enough.

However in this case football and sports cannot become a potion
of oblivion for Turkey’s policy against Armenia over the past 17
years. Turkey has at least protocolary debts to Armenia. The first
two presidents of Armenia have visited Turkey for four times on
different occasions, and proved that it is not Armenia that suffers
from complexes. The heavy burden of the Genocide, the prolonged
blockade, Turkish ex-president Turgut Ozal’s "the accursed wedge"
expression about Armenia and even Turkey’s desire to throw "a couple
of bombs" on Armenia 1993 have ever hindered the Armenian leaders to
express their willfulness to establish normal relations with Turkey.

Ankara has always faked to be deaf and blind to Armenia’s initiative
and became the prisoner of Baku of free will.

For sure President Gul is not coming to Yerevan to pay his country’s
debts. The situation in the region has changed, and Ankara has
been left outside of the global processes in Caucasus. Turkey feels
necessary to undertake some initiative and become important again. And
the best stage for playing a constructive role is the Hrazdan Stadium
in Yerevan.

By now, Turkey has had many investments in Azerbaijan and Georgia,
and today they are in danger. They must be saved, and the Caucasian
Cooperation and Security Platfrom is to become their life jacket. The
initiative itself, with all its vulnerable spots and inconsistencies,
cannot bring forth any positive change unless it implies assuming
responsibility for the past crimes and real steps to amending the evil.

Shall Turkey have the political will to complete its initiatives? This
question will find an answer very soon.

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE US SUPPORTED PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IN EXCHANGE FOR TRANSIT OF ENERGY CARRIERS IN BAKU

Azerbaijan Business Center
Sept 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The first visit of the US Vice President
to Azerbaijan could not help the country to rise in the rating of
America’s partners: everyone remained at the same positions, and the
major Washington’s partner is still Tbilisi.

Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney noted that the visit
was planned several months ago, but the talks are held when Russia
invaded Georgia.

"That action was unambiguously blamed by the international
community. From that point of view, President Bush and I would like to
say to Azerbaijani people and the whole world that we are interested in
establishment of peace and stability in that region. Today we are again
confirming our liability and adherence to further strengthening of the
relations between our countries. America supports the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We are supporting the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on your country’s
principle of territorial integrity and all other international and
legal norms. Today the regulation of the conflict is important as
never before as the peace and stability in the region as well as
Azerbaijan’s security depends on this," Dick Cheney said.

Then he underlined the Azerbaijan’s adherence to cooperation with
Western countries in energy sphere that is highly appreciated by
America.

"The US alongside with other European countries, including Turkey,
strongly believes that to provide free carriage of natural resources
and creation of additional export routes, the joint work with
Azerbaijan, Caucasus and Central Asia must be done. Recently energy
security gains more importance," Dick Cheney said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that at present the countries are working
on the further partnership development in the area of energy and
power-supply diversification.

"We have politic relations developing successfully and efficient
economic relations. The ties in the sphere of security, defense, our
cooperation in international peacemaking operations and, undoubtedly,
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict mean a lot to us. The
regulation of that conflict has to base on international and legal
norms provided that Azerbaijan’s and all countries’ territorial
integrity should be respected. I am sure that the efficient partnership
between Azerbaijan and the US and other countries of the region will
lead to more successes, further strengthening of security, peace,
stability and prosperity," I.Aliyev said.

As a whole, the yesterday’s visit confirmed the forecast made by The
Times: in Azerbaijan Dick Cheney saved the system of alternatives
pipelines to Russian ones, the architect of which he is, but the
investors’ trust in their reliability reeled after the events in
Georgia and explosion on Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Turkey
took place.

VP NOMINEE REITERATES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIANS AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
By Harut Sassounian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/09/2008

Armenia-USA, Diaspora

Now that both political parties have selected their presidential and
vice presidential nominees, we can better judge which side is more
supportive of Armenian issues.

As the Democratic National Convention came to a close last Thursday
night, Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and his running mate
Sen. Joe Biden, briefly met at a private reception with a large and
enthusiastic group of supporters.

As they were hastily making the rounds and shaking the hands of
supporters, my young son, Aram, told Sen. Biden: "Thank you for your
commitment to the Armenian community." Sen. Biden, looking squarely in
his eyes, emphatically replied: "I don’t know anybody more committed
than me."

Those who have followed Sen. Biden’s distinguished career in the
U.S. Senate have no doubt about the accuracy and sincerity of
his statement. Not surprisingly, ever since his vice presidential
nomination over a week ago, the Turkish press has published dozens of
hysterical articles about Sen. Biden’s long-standing "anti-Turkish"
and "pro-Armenian" positions.

Topping Sen. Biden’s solid pro-Armenian record, Sen. Obama himself
has repeatedly made supportive statements on Armenian issues,
which explain why Turks and Azerbaijanis prefer Sen. McCain who
refuses to acknowledge the Genocide. The best example of Sen. Obama’s
strong commitment to the truth manifested itself during his visit to
Baku in 2005, when he was harassed by Azeri journalists for having
sent a letter to Pres. Bush asking him to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Instead of ducking the issue, Sen. Obama boldly told the
irritated Azeris that the Armenian Genocide was a historic fact and
that "killing civilians anywhere in the world should not be allowed."

Although we need to be weary of promises made by politicians,
Armenian-Americans no longer need to beg presidential candidates to
acknowledge the Genocide. That was already accomplished by Pres. Reagan
back in 1981. Just as the Jewish community does not ask presidential
candidates to say Holocaust, Armenians do not need to ask them to say
Genocide either. However, should a candidate refuse to acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide, as is the case with Sen. McCain who voted
against a Senate Resolution on this issue sponsored by Sen. Bob Dole
in 1990, Armenian-Americans should condemn him rather than support
him. In a statement Sen. McCain issued earlier this year, he referred
to the Armenian Genocide as "painful experiences," "tragedy" and
"brutal murder." How many American Jews do you think would vote for
a presidential candidate who would dare to call the Holocaust mere
"killings" or a "massacre?" Since Sen. McCain is adamantly refusing
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in a close race when he needs
every vote to win, the chances slim to none that he would use the
term "genocide," after he becomes President! Therefore, voting for
Sen. McCain should be out of question for any self-respecting Armenian
who cares about the Armenian Cause. As to Sen. Obama, we should expect
him to do much more than merely acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. He
should be asked to increase foreign aid to Armenia and Artsakh,
pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan to lift their blockades of Armenia,
denounce the violations of civil, cultural and religious rights of the
Armenian minority in Turkey, urge Turkey and Azerbaijan to preserve
Armenian historic and religious monuments, and appoint qualified
Armenian-Americans to senior positions in his administration.

In my opinion, there is a clear contrast between the two presidential
candidates. Sen. Obama stands for change, while Sen. McCain is for
the continuation of Pres. Bush’s failed policies.

Those who vote for Sen. McCain, they would be voting for four more
years of Armenian Genocide denial by the White House and the State
Department, continued blockade of Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and
an increased threat to Artsakh’s survival by an emboldened Azerbaijan.

Beyond Armenian affairs, Sen. McCain’s election would negatively impact
important issues affecting America and the world, such as: U.S. troops
remaining in Iraq indefinitely; possible American military involvement
in new wars in Iran and Georgia; more U.S. soldiers losing their lives
around the globe for no good reason; trillions of dollars added to
the national debt; millions of Americans joining the poverty rolls;
more Americans without health insurance; and more terrorism around
the world.

Sen. Obama may not be able to deliver on all of his promised changes,
but at least he won’t make the situation any worse than it is now!

DASHNAKTSUTYUN DEMANDS RECOGNITION OF ARTSAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Sep 2008
Armenia

Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of the independence of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh. On this occasion ARF Dashnaktsutyun party held
a demonstration yesterday.

NA Deputy Speaker Hrayr Karapetyan in his speech considered it symbolic
that the anniversary of Artsakh’s independence is solemnly celebrated
in Yerevan as well. "Artsakh is the symbol of the struggle of all
Armenians and the victory of the first refuge of Armenian Cause. The
world recognizes the nations’ right to sovereignty. Today Artsakh
issue has ripened in terms of the international recognition of NKR’s
independence.

But unfortunately the superpowers use double standard politics in
the nations’ right to sovereignty. Today we demand from the world to
recognize NKR’s independence, the right to independence of Artsakh
Armenian’s."