Author: Torosian Aram

YEREVAN UNDER PRESSURE TO FREE AILING EDITOR
Hasmik Smbatian

Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun. am/content/article/1789998.html
July 31 2009

Prison authorities in Armenia recommended on Friday the urgent release
of Arman Babajanian, a jailed newspaper editor diagnosed with a brain
tumor, amid mounting uproar from international civil rights groups
concerned about his deteriorating condition.

Babajanian, whose jail sentence ends on September 16, was taken to
a prison hospital last month after complaining of severe headaches
and vision problems. Doctors found a tumor in his brain during a
medical examination. Friends and supporters say he is in urgent need
of treatment at a civilian hospital.

The Paris-based group Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) expressed outrage
at the Armenian authorities’ refusal so far to release the young
editor of the pro-opposition "Zhamanak" newspaper on parole. "We are
extremely shocked by the attitude of the authorities, who have turned
a deaf ear to the appeals of doctors and human rights activists,"
RSF said in a statement on Friday.

"Babajanian has nearly completed his sentence so we fail to understand
why they insist on keeping him in prison," added RSF. "His condition
is serious and the tumor could leave him handicapped for life."

On Wednesday, a top representative of Human Rights Watch sent an
open letter to Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian urging the Armenian
government to provide Babajanian with "the highest possible standard
of treatment." "We are very concerned about his health," said Holly
Cartner, head of the New York-based organization’s Europe and Central
Asia division.

The prison hospital administration on Friday discussed the matter and
decided to ask a state commission empowered to grant parole to convicts
to ensure Babajanian’s early release. Speaking to RFE/RL by phone,
the editor said the commission dominated by senior law-enforcement
officials could meet later in the day.

But the office of state human rights ombudsman Armen Harutiunian,
which has a representative in the commission, could not confirm the
information. A spokesman for the office told RFE/RL that the body’s
next regular meeting is scheduled for the second half of August. "We
have no information yet about any extraordinary meetings of the
commission," Grigori Grigorian said.

Babajanian was arrested in June 2006 and subsequently sentenced
to three-and-a-half years in prison for forging documents to evade
compulsory military service. The authorities have repeatedly refused
to free him on parole despite appeals from domestic and international
watchdogs, including RSF and HRW.

This is how the Turkish State has resolved the Armenian, the Greek,
the Assyrian and the Kurdish problems

”The same state
`problem solving’ mentality was in work for both the Armenian and
Kurdish questions. Population exchanges, forceful evacuations and
atrocities directed at civilians. Nothing has changed over all these
years. The same `problem solving’ mentality created the very problem
it was trying to solve.”

42-the-ugly-truth-about-the-kurdish-question-the-a rmenian-question.html

ORHAN KEMAL CENGÄ°Z
The ugly truth about the Kurdish question — the Armenian question!?
If we could discuss the Armenian question openly, if we could confront
the Armenian tragedy, there would not have been a Kurdish question. We
are far from understanding the Armenian question, yet can we be close
to solving the Kurdish question?
To answer this, we need to look at how the Kurdish question emerged in
the first place. The same state `problem solving’ mentality was in
work for both the Armenian and Kurdish questions. Population
exchanges, forceful evacuations and atrocities directed at
civilians. Nothing has changed over all these years. The same `problem
solving’ mentality created the very problem it was trying to
solve. The Kurdish question was very simple to solve in the
beginning. There was a marginal armed group (the PKK, or Kurdistan
Workers’ Party) which used to carry out sporadic attacks against
security forces. Most Kurds did not like them. But many Kurds also
wanted to be recognized as Kurds; be able to preserve and live their
culture, speak their language and so on. At that time, the Turkish
official stance — dictated by the military, basically — was very
rigid on the Kurdish question. According to this `understanding,’
there were no Kurds, there was no separate Kurdish language. Kurds
were `mountain Turks.’ They were called `Kurds’ because of the sound
they make when they walk on snow: `Kart,’ or `Kurt.’ For those of you
who do not know the difference between Kurdish and Turkish, they are
about as similar as Chinese and English. So basically, the official
understanding of the Kurdish question was a joke. If we did not know
the sufferings of Kurds as a result of this `unwise’ approach, we
could even say that the Turkish state has a dry sense of humor because
of the creation of this `mountain Turk’ concept. But it was not a
joke, and this understanding of the question caused a serious human
tragedy in Anatolia once again.
The treatment of Kurdish prisoners in the Diyarbakır prison after the
1980 military coup was a turning point. The torture and ill treatment
of Kurdish inmates in this prison was beyond human imagination. The
Diyarbakır prison was like a Nazi concentration camp. The inmates
suffered so much that upon release almost all of them went to the
mountains to join the ranks of the PKK. People were imprisoned even
for just expressing peaceful ideas about the Kurdish problem. It would
not be an exaggeration to say that the phenomenon of the Diyarbakır
prison created the PKK we know today. With these `angry’ militants in
its ranks, the PKK increased the number of its attacks
dramatically. The Turkish security apparatus started to seek new ways
to handle this =80=9Cnew phenomenon’ and (not surprisingly, of course)
came up with the idea of using more violence. They created the concept
of `fighting terrorists with their own methods.’ Kurdish villages were
set on fire; 3,000 villages were destroyed. The monster created by the
Turkish deep state, JÄ°TEM (an illegal gendarmerie unit), claimed more
than 17,000 lives. People were abducted in broad daylight, and their
dead bodies later thrown onto streets, under bridges and into
wells. No person ever turned up alive after being taken by JITEM. The
terror they created, like the terror in the Diyarbakır prison, sent
more and more militants to the PKK.
Stuck between a rock and hard place
This is one side of the coin.
On the other side, there is the PKK. It was first established as a
Marxist-Leninist organization and turned into an extremely
nationalist, violent structure. Many times, poor Kurdish villagers
were persecuted simultaneously by security forces and the PKK, both of
which accused villagers of aiding and abetting `the other’ one. The
PKK killed many Kurds. The PKK tortured and killed its own
militants. The PKK used terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings,
exploding bombs in the most crowded streets, and so on. The PKK was
ruled by an iron fist. To be honest, for many years I thought the
worst thing that could ever happen to the Kurds would be to live under
the authority of the PKK, which has the potential of becoming one of
the worst dictatorships the world has ever seen. Today we are at a
point where Turkish state officers mention the `Kurdish question’
openly, and both the PKK and the Turkish state are about to explain
their `road maps’ for a solution to the problem. In the past, there
were occasions when we all felt so close to the solution. Each time,
the `Turkish deep state’ and the `deep PKK’ found a way to sabotage
the whole process. Today, because of the Ergenekon case, we are in a
more advantageous situation. At least one `party’ has fewer options to
sabotage the `process.’ But what is this process? Does it include an
open confrontation with our past?
Does it include both Turks and Kurds questioning taboos? Will it lead
us to confront older and deeper wounds in our past, like the Armenian
tragedy, which was created by Turks and Kurds together?
My observation is that no one in Turkey is ready for this kind of
confrontation. Instead, everyone waits for `the other’ to accept their
responsibility without sacrificing anything. I strongly believe that
if we do not confront this ugly past, if we do not open our hearts to
the human suffering, no `solution’ will be long lasting. If Kurds do
not open their hearts to PKK members who were tortured and killed by
the PKK or the Turkish victims of terror created by this organization,
likewise if Turks fail to understand the pain and suffering of Kurdish
villagers who were wrested from their very roots, we cannot solve
anything. This is the first level. At the second level, we need a
deeper understanding. Both Turks and Kurds need to confront the
Armenian tragedy, which they created together. If Kurds start to
understand this tragedy, they will get rid of the illusion that they
are the only people who ever suffered in Anatolia. If they understand
the Armenian tragedy, and how Kurds were used by the deep state then,
they would be much more humble, much less nationalist. We need to
question many things. Every answer will lead to other questions. This
is a process full of pain. Is anyone ready for that much deep
questioning? I don’t think so. Unless we engage this kind of
questioning, we will inevitably end up with shallow `solutionsâ’ which
will not be long lasting. If we had understood the Armenian tragedy,
we would not have become mired in the Kurdish question. Unless we
question our past, some people will try to restore the `deep stateâ’
once again, some people will try to re-establish the PKK sometime in
the future. Everything depends on severing the moral bases of these
terrible structures, and this depends on an open confrontation with
everything in the past. Can we start?

31.07.2009
Columnists

LAWMAKERS ADDRESS TURKISH BACKPEDALING

armradio.am
31.07.2009 11:02

Under the leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Co-Chairs, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark
Kirk (R-IL), along with Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George
Radanovich (R-CA), a bipartisan group of legislators sent a letter to
President Barack Obama highlighting Turkey’s failure to live up to its
commitments regarding normalizing of relations with Armenia without
preconditions, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

The letter read in part "We write to you [Mr. President] with our
concerns about Turkish backpedaling on the agreed upon roadmap
to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia." Recalling
stated U.S. policy "that normalization should take place without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe," the letter pointed
out Armenia’s constructive approach and raised concerns about Turkey’s
counterproductive actions: "While the Government of Armenia remains
committed to this roadmap and has long offered to establish ties
with Turkey without preconditions, Turkey’s public statements and
actions since April 24th stand in sharp contrast to this agreement
and undermine U.S. policy that normalization take place without
preconditions."

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny commended this bipartisan
initiative stating that "Armenia has repeatedly offered to normalize
relations with Turkey without preconditions only to be rebuffed
by Turkey.

We also support the position espoused by the Members that the
Administration should separate the issues of normalization and Genocide
affirmation. U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should not be
held hostage to normalization of relations."

TURKEY REAFFIRMS DETERMINATION TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

Trend
July 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday that Turkish
government was still resolute to normalize relations with neighboring
Armenia, Turk.net reported.

"But at the same time, it is important for us to see the same
determination from the international community and especially from
Armenia on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Davutoglu
told a press conference after his meeting with Bosnian Foreign Minister
Sven Alkalaj.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic or economic relations since
Armenia declared its independence in 1991 and Turkey closed its border
with Armenia after this country invaded the Upper-Karabakh region of
Azerbaijan in 1992.

On July 24, 2008, the then Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
expressed Turkey’s willingness to normalize relations with Yerevan.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul travelled to Armenia in September
2008 to watch 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between the two
countries upon an invitation by President Serzh Sarksyan of Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia are to play another qualifier in Istanbul in
September 2009 but Sarksyan said Tuesday he would only accept an
invitation to the return match if Turkey takes "real steps" to open
their border.

Davutoglu said Turkish government was hopeful over the normalization
process with Armenia.

"We believe that the most extensive normalization would be seen in
our region in the coming period," Davutoglu said.

July 30, 2009

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL PRESIDE OVER LITURGY
AT CAMP
HAIASTAN

This Sunday, August
2, the Prelate will travel to Massachusetts
where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy at Camp Haiastan
in the covered Pavilion at 11 a.m. Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, pastor of Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, will officiate and Archbishop
Oshagan will deliver the sermon. The Blessing of Madagh will take place
immediately following the Liturgy and this will be followed by Sts. Vartanantz’s
annual picnic.

SAVE THE DATE FOR REOPENING OF ST.
ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL

St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, which has been undergoing a major
renovation, is preparing for a blessed re-opening on the weekend of September
19 and 20. On Saturday, September 19, His Eminence will re-consecrate the
Cathedral’s altar, and on Sunday, September 20, he will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and deliver the sermon.

The Cathedral’s infrastructure was in serious disrepair. As the
renovation progressed the overall condition of the Cathedral was found to be
worse than originally believed. The renovation has included renewal of all
utilities, and major renovation of the sanctuary, offices, hall, and rest
rooms.

MORE DATEVATSI IMPRESSIONS

Here are a few more impressions
from students who attended Datev Summer Institute this year.

"At first, I was a little nervous about coming to Datev. I got here and
the environment is amazing. I didn’t know my roommate at all and now we’re best
friends even though we live in different states. We were roommates again this
year. The classes are really interesting and fun and really help open your eyes
to God. You do everything with your friends, including meals and church, and it
helps bring you closer to God, your Armenian culture, and your friends. I look
forward to it all year long and it is definitely an experience I will never
forget."
Alysha Phillips (2nd year student)

"This is my 3rd year at Datev and, wow, has it been great thus
far! It’s not only because I’m learning and having a blast with my friends, but
because of the loving environment that is shared here with my brothers and
sisters in Christ. Aside from the great classes, I have learned that when we
come to events like this with open hearts and minds, we will be blessed beyond
belief. As Christians, we believe that one of our main purposes is to be a
light onto the darkness and Datev is just the place to prepare you to do so."
Mesrop Borekjian (3rd year student)

"Throughout our years at Datev, we have learned many things about Armenian
language, religion, and culture. It has made a big impact in our lives. Datev
is amazing, we have so much fun and make life long friends. We look forward to
returning as post graduates."
Sareen Streeter and Shoghag Aktavoukian (4th year students)
To the press release and photographs of the 2009 Datev Institute click
here ( 82/goto: l ).

2009 PRELACY LINKED iN WEEKEND

The 2009 Prelacy LINKED iN weekend for young adults will take place
September 25-27, at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts,
as part of the ongoing Year of the Youth activities.
Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be
made
by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Professor
Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret Stepanian. The weekend gathering will
also feature prayer services, meditations, bible studies, and panel discussion.
For more information click here ( 82/goto: htm ).
ARMENIAN AMERICAN
NIGHT IN NEW YORK

Enjoy a free concert under the stars on August 16, 7 pm, at Armenian
American Night at Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, New York. Music by Onnik
Dinkjian, Ara Dinkjian, Dick Barsamian, Chuck Yegian, Jaq Hagopoian and Vicken
Makoushian and his Band. Also featuring Antranig Dance Group. For information:
516-761-0042.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for
today, Thursday, July 30, are: Genesis 4:1-50:26; Numbers 20:23-30; Deuteronomy
34:5-12; Joshua 24:29-33; 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Hebrews 11:1-31; Luke 20:34-40.

Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died
there in the land of Moab, as the Lord’s command. He was buried in a valley in the
land of Moab, opposite Bethpeor, but no one
knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when
he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites
wept for Moses in the plains of Moab
thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of
wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him,
doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in
Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all
the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the
mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in
the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:5-12)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible
readings click here ().

S ONS AND GRANDSONS OF ST. GREGORY

This Saturday,
August 1, the Armenian Church remembers the sons and grandsons of St. Gregory
the Illuminator, namely, Sts. Aristakes, Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris, and Daniel
(who was not related, but was a distinguished and favorite student of St.
Gregory). All of them continued the work of St. Gregory, preaching the word of
Christ to pagans, at great personal peril.

St. Gregory had two
sons, Aristakes and Vrtanes. Aristakes, the younger son, succeeded Gregory as
Catholicos and was martyred around 333 A.D. Aristakes represented the Armenian
Church at the first ecumenical council at Nicaea
in 325. It was at this council that the Nicene Creed, recited to this day
during the Divine Liturgy, was written and adopted. Vrtanes–at this time over
70 years old–was called upon to become catholicos and served for eight years
until his death. Vrtanes had two sons, Grigoris and Housig. Grigoris preached
in the northern provinces of Armenia
(present day Georgia)
where he was martyred in 347. Daniel, who as noted above was not related by
blood to Gregory, is included with the sons and grandsons. He was chosen to
succeed Housig as catholicos, but never actually served as he too was martyred
one year later in 348.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August
2–Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Annual Picnic and Blessing of
Madagh and Grapes at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, 12 noon to 6 pm,
rain or shine. Music by John Berberian and Ensemble.

August
2–St. Paul Church
(Waukegan, Illinois), annual Blessing of the Grapes and
Family Shish Kebab Picnic and Bake Sale, 12 noon to 4 pm, rain or shine. Call
ahead to place orders, 847-244-4573.

August
8–National
Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) religious seminary hosted by the Ladies
Guild of St. Gregory Churchy of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.
For information: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 781-762-4253.

August
9–St.
Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, annual picnic and blessing of
madagh and grapes at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. Starts at 12 noon,
rain or shine. Live music.

August
9–Holy Trinity
Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
annual picnic and blessing of the grapes.

August
9–Annual
Blessing of the Grapes picnic by Holy Cross Armenian Church, 101 Spring Avenue,
Troy, New
York, noon to 4 pm, on the church grounds. Full
course kebab dinner, Armenian pastries and lehmajune will be available.

August
16–Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey, annual picnic and
Blessing of the Grapes.

August
16–St.
Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, picnic and
Blessing of the Grapes.

August
16–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia,
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Grape Blessing picnic. For information:
215-482-9200.

August
16–St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City,
Illinois, annual Blessing of the Grapes picnic, following Divine Liturgy and
Blessing of the Grapes, 12:30-3:30 pm, at St. Gregory Community Center.
Delicious shish, losh and chicken kebab dinners, Armenian pastries, and
specialty foods; raffle, games and activities for kids. Rain or shine.

September
13–Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 75th
anniversary Holy Mass and banquet, under the auspices of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

September
13–St.
Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North
Andover, Massachusetts,
annual picnic on newly renovated church grounds, 158 Main St., North Andover.
Enjoy food, music. Fellowship. For details go to church’s web site ( ( 82/goto: ))
or call 978-685-5038.

September
12–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Haigazian Armenian School.

September
13–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia;
opening of Sunday School.

September
13–Annual
picnic of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of New Britain and Hartford at the
Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New Britain, Connecticut, beginning at
noon, rain or shine. Live music. Armenian food. Free admission.

September
19-20–Re-consecration
of the altar and the newly renovated St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday.
Episcopal Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.

September
20–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia.
Lobster Fest. For information: 215-482-9200.

September
20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic
on the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at
1 pm immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing,
tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For information
718-224-2275.

September
21–St.
Steph en’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf, lunch,
dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at 781-326-5764.

September
25-26-27–Prelacy
Linked In, gathering of the youth. For details click
here ( 82/goto: htm ).

September
28–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at
Talamore Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania.
For information: 215-482-9200.

September
28–Holy Trinity
Church (Worcester,
Massachusetts), 6th annual Golf
Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling,
MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and
prizes, $130 per person. For information send email to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]),
or telephone 508-872-9629.

October
1–Sts.
Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th
annual Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175 includes lunch, dinner,
golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great day and support the church. For
information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.

October
17–National
Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual conference at the Prelacy offices in
New York City.
Details will follow.

October
18–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal
Cultural Celebration at Holy Trinity Church,
Cheltenham, PA.

November
1–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia,
Sunday School Halloween Party.

November
6-7–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia.
Food Festival.

November
20, 21, 22–Sts.
Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield,
New Jersey) Annual Bazaar and
Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional
kavourma dinner.

December
20–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia.
Sunday School Christmas Pageant.

December
31–St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia,
Seroonian Community Center New Year’s Eve celebration.

December
31–Sts.
Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield,
New Jersey), New Year’s Eve
Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web
pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To
ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.

Items
in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as
the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited
to send information about their major events to be included in the calendar.
Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

PART OF FLIGHT 7908 CVR FOUND

Tehran Times
July 25 2009
Iran

TEHRAN — A small part of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the
ill-fated Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 was found 15 meters below the
surface of the ground at the crash site on Thursday.

Ahmad Majidi, the head of the special working group investigating
the Caspian Airlines crash, said if the information in this part,
which is seriously damaged, is usable, then the search to find the
rest of the CVR will be halted.

Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 was en route to Yerevan, the Armenian
capital, when it crashed on July 15 in northwestern Iran, killing
all 153 passengers and 15 crew members. The plane, a Russian-made
Tupolev, went down 20 kilometers from the city of Qazvin about 15
minutes after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport.

Majidi also said that almost all the bodies of the victims have been
handed over to their families, and added that no family members have
yet been located to claim the remaining bodies.

ARMENIAN VERSION OF CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS: MAKING THE CONNECTION REPORT REPRESENTED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The USAID Mobilizing Action Against
Corruption Activity (MAAC), RA Ombudsman’s Office and International
Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP) represented the Armenian version
of the ICHRP Corruption and Human Rights: Making the Connection report
on July 22.

In RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian’s words, corruption is today a
serious problem for Armenia, and a considerable part of the complaints
got by the Ombudsman’s Office relates to the facts of corruption. "This
is the phenomenon the struggle with which is rather difficult and which
is deeply rooted in our society," A. Harutiunian said. In his words,
one must not pay attention to punishments in the struggle against
corruption but must be able to root out those phenomena with the help
of a number of institutes and reduce them with the help of preventive
mechanisms. In A. Harutiunian’s words, while the corruption has such
large scales in the country, it is difficult to speak about an ordinary
citizen and harmonious mutual relations of state structures.

ICHRP Robert Archer mentioned that the corruption in Armenia has a
wide spreading in different spheres, starting from the judicial system
to small structures. In his words, though a number of anti-corruption
events are implemented in Armenia during the recent years, but there
are numerous problems.

MAAC President Francois Vezina stated that according to surveys of
the Transparency International organization, Armenia has received
2.93 points over last 6 years measured by the 10-point scale. He also
mentioned that Armenia shows good indexes among the South Caucasian and
Central Asian states but it has still much to do at the world level.

To recap, the 4th Anti-Corruption Conference organized by the MAAC
and ICHRP took place in Yerevan on the same day.

IN JAN-JUNE 2009 INDIVIDUAL TIME DEPOSITS OF AMERIABANK GREW BY 230%

ArmInfo
2009-07-22 00:21:00

ArmInfo. In Jan-June 2009 individual time deposits of Ameriabank grew
by 230% to 6.3bln AMD (5.3 times more than in Jan-June 2008).

The press service of Ameriabank reports that in Jan-June 2009 time
deposits by legal entities grew by 95.9% to 26bln AMD (3.4 times
more than in Jan-June 2008 and 80.5% of total deposits). "This growth
proves that our clients trust us," says the source.

Ameriabank specializes in investment banking but offers the whole
spectrum of banking services. The strategic partner of Ameriabank
is Troika Dialog, one of the biggest investment-banking companies in
Russia. The majority shareholder of the bank is TDA Holdings Limited,
affiliate of Troika Dialog.

NALBANDIAN FURTHER ALIENATES
By Ara Khachatourian

Asbarez
Jul 20th, 2009

Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Eduard Nalabandian, chose a joint press
briefing with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt to fire back at
calls for his resignation.

Last week the Armenian Revolutionary Federation called for Nalbandian
to step down, saying "Armenia’s foreign policy has deviated from the
main provisions of the national security strategy."

"On the one hand, they can perhaps be explained by some naivety, to
put it very mildly. On the other hand, perhaps by attempts to fish
for something in troubled waters," said Nalbandian. "I don’t think
that speculation around the Karabakh problem, which is a matter of
national importance, gives credit to anyone."

The undiplomatic manner in which Nalbandian addressed this matter,
demonstrated further that a change was needed.

The individual charged with shaping Armenia’s foreign policy cannot
diminish national discourse on a matter as urgent and important as
the fate of Karabakh by describing the sincere concerns, not just from
the ARF, but also from political players in Karabakh as "speculation."

Calls for Nalbandian’s resignation and criticism of Armenia’s foreign
policy stems from the lack of transparency on part of the foreign
ministry during the course of Nalbandian’s tenure. When both Azeri
and Turkish of ficials–perhaps in tandem–are making statements on
a daily basis and revealing details of discussions and agreements,
the general silence by the foreign ministry prompts discussion. It is
this very strategy that has muddied the waters, in which Nalbandian
claims his detractors are fishing.

Clearly, the calls for his resignation prompted him to clarify a
series of issues, including refuting claims by his Azeri counterpart
that a timetable has been developed for withdrawal from the liberated
territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. "I can tell
you that this issue has not been discussed at the Moscow meeting,"
stressed Nalbandian.

He went on to say that while the Madrid principles serve as a basis
for negotiations, Armenia has not given its official approval to them.

Nalbandian also broached the thorny issue of Turkey-Armenia relations,
saying that no new agreement has been signed following the April
22 announcement of the infamous "roadmap," and rejected claims that
Armenia has approved the establishment of commission of historians to
probe the Genocide. He did say, however, that once a final agreement is
reached and corresponding agreements are signed, an intergovernmental
committee that will include various sub-committees "that will deal
with various issues, including the issue of the restoration of mutual
trust between the two peoples."

If the foreign ministry elevates the transparency and provides
information on a timely manner, then the nation can have a more
substantive dialogue and discussion about matters of great importance
to Armenia, as it should given the ramifications of these critical
challenges confronting us.

By brushing aside the criticism and resorting to petty name calling,
Nalbandian showed his and the administration’s unwillingness to trust
its own people, further alienating the political forces at a time
when national unity is of paramount importance.

"THE RABBLE"
by Husam Itani

Dar Al-Hayat
ah/40300
July 21 2009
Lebanon

In the language of Iran’s official media, those participating in the
unrest taking place in China’s Xinjiang province are only "rabble"
which the authorities there have had to prevent from destroying
property and assaulting citizens.

Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani condemned in
his speech last Friday the bloody repression to which protesters of
Uyghur ethnicity were subjected, as well as the coverage provided by
the Iranian media. Those taking part in prayer at Tehran University
responded positively to Rafsanjani’s words by chanting slogans
denouncing China and also Russia, which drove members of the
Conservative movement present there to chant the slogan demanding
death to America.

The reason for the bias of Iran’s official media in favor of Chinese
authorities may be attributed to the depth of cooperation between
Tehran and Beijing in the economic and military fields, and to
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s need for international allies, which
have become scarcer than the proverbial faithful friend. Moreover, this
is not the first time the Iranian government ignores the oppression
to which the Muslims of other countries are subjected to, placing its
tangible interests ahead of its ideological claims. This happened in
the 1990s, when Tehran supported Armenia in its war against Azerbaijan
(a Muslim country with a Shiite majority and millions of its citizens
sharing the ethnic identity of Iranian counterparts). It also happened
in the 1980s, when Ayatollah Khomeini ignored the calls of the Afghan
opposition (which would later turn into the Mujahideen movement) to
obtain the support necessary to confront Soviet occupation towards
the end of 1979.

Both the Armenian and Soviet chapters in Iran’s foreign relations
confirm the pragmatic nature of the regime in Tehran. Some will say
that leaving the Afghans alone to face the Soviets was strategically in
the service of the Iranian Revolution, which sought at this early phase
of its establishment to stand firm and strengthen its hold on power
in its own country, despite the fact that this led to strengthening
Afghan voices that called for allying with the US to combat Soviet
troops, which in turn led the way to the known developments that took
place in Afghanistan.

The stance on the Uyghur in China is indicative not only of the
separation between "State and Revolution", as is famously said
in Lebanon, but also of an effective renouncement of the slogans
of Islamic unity in order to preserve incomparably more important
interests with China, regardless of the religious, ethnic or political
identity of the current rule there.

Thus, the identification of Ahmadinejad’s government and those who
speak in its name with the authorities of Xinjiang province and Beijing
is not unusual. Indeed, the "rabble", of which more than a hundred were
killed by the bullets of Chinese security forces, is an identical copy
of another "rabble", killed by the bullets of the Basij in Tehran. The
excessive use of violence there, in order to prevent a minority – which
considers itself culturally and politically oppressed and is demanding
the minimum of recognition within the framework of the Chinese state –
from expressing itself, is no different in its bases and aims from
similar excess which was resorted to in order to revoke the right
of part of the Iranian public to repeat the elections, after having
become haunted with "doubts", in the words of Hashemi Rafsanjani,
regarding the soundness of these elections, which took place last June.

Perhaps one may, in this context, speak of a unity that brings together
the points of view of two governments that claim to hold power in the
name of "the masses", "the workers", "the downtrodden", and other
similar epithets, while in fact adopting, realistically, a stance
that believes only in staying in power whatever the price, exceeding
the features of pragmatism to the limits of blatant opportunism,
equally whether their slogans are those of an Islamic republic,
communism or otherwise.