Author: Tumanian Talar

AMBASSADORS OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY TO ITALY TOOK PART IN PROTEST ACTION
CONDEMNING MURDER OF HRANT DINK

Yerevan, January 30. ArmInfo. A protest action was held in front of
the building of Rome’s municipal administration, the participants of
which expressed their protest against the murder of the
Editor-in-Chief of "Agos" newspaper, Hrant Dink, killed in Istanbul on
January 19.

According to the information, received by ArmInfo from the
press-service of Eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Italy,
the primate of AAC Eparchy Aren Shahinyan, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Italy, Ruben
Shougaryan, the Ambassador of Turkey to Italy, representatives of
Italy’s Senate, as well as tens of representatives of the Kurd and
Turkish communities of Italy participated in the action.

TURKISH YOUNG MAN HIJACKS STEAMSHIP AS A TOKEN OF PROTEST AGAINST
SLOGAN "WE ALL ARE ARMENIANS"

ANKARA, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. On January 28, a person having
proclaimed himself a member of Patriotic Turk Fighters organization
hijacked Sultantepe steamship sailing by the Galibolu-Lapseki rout in
the Dardanelles.

According to Hurriet, Sultantepe steamship sailed in the direction of
Galibolu yesterday at 23:00 by Istanbul time. Twenty minutes later a
man whose name was Nihat Ajar armed with a pistol entered the cabin of
50-year-old captain, Ali Jan and took hostage him and two other
members of the crew. Then he announced that he had placed C-4
explosive in the steamer and assumes steering the steamer. But he was
transferred to the Police in two hours.

According to Radikal, 36-year-old Nihat Ajar explained his step this
way: "I have done this for the sake of my homeland, for raising my
voice of protest against the appeal "We all are Hrants, we all are
Armenians." I acted on my own. For giving seriousness to my actions I
declared that I am a member of Patriotic Turk Fighters
organization. But no organization of the kind exists indeed." Nihat
Ajar was arrested.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkish Foreign Minister warns "France is following wrong path"
27.01.2007 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Meeting with his French counterpart in Paris on
Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul expressed criticisms
and concerns about the French Parliament’s passage of a bill last
October to penalize people who question the Armenian Genocide
claims. "France is following the wrong path in relations with Turkey,"
Gul told French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy on the sidelines of the
International Donors Conference held in Paris. "The French
Parliament’s passage of the Armenian bill was in nobody’s interest,"
he said. Underlining the damage done to relations between Ankara and
Paris by the passage of the Armenian bill, Gul said, "Relations with
France could have been better." The New Anatolian reports.

On October of 2006 the French Parliament adopted a law on criminal
responsibility for denying the Armenian Genocide, which foresee 45 000
euros fine. The law must be approved by the Senate and the president
of the country.

Brunei Times, Brunei Darussalam
Jan 26 2007

Armenians mourn slain journalist

YEREVAN

26-Jan-07

A HUNDRED thousand people marched through the Armenian capital on
Wednesday to pay their respects to murdered journalist Hrant Dink.

The fatal shooting of Dink, a Turkish-Armenian editor who wrote
articles referring to a "genocide" of Armenians, has provoked an
outpouring of grief in Armenia.

The marchers progressed through the centre of Yerevan and laid
wreaths and carnations at a memorial to some 1.5 million Armenians
who died between 1915 and 1923.

Armenia says they were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks, but Turkey
denies accusations of genocide.

"Turks of our generation are not to blame… their forefathers are,"
said Anahit Arustamyan, a 15-year-old girl who turned out for the
march. "I was surprised that so many Turks turned out yesterday for
the funeral."

Police closed streets in central Yerevan and said 100,000 people
turned out for the march, about the same number who took to the
streets in Istanbul to mark the journalist’s funeral.

Some marchers carried photographs of Dink. Others held placards
reading "The world is surprised we are not" and blaming the Turkish
government.

A 17-year-old youth, Ogun Samast, has confessed to killing Dink in
Istanbul for "insulting" Turks.

Dink, 52, had been prosecuted for his views on the massacres of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915.

He was among intellectuals, including Nobel Literature Laureate Orhan
Pamuk, who have been charged under a controversial law that make it a
crime to insult Turkey’s identity, state institutions and security
forces.

Turkey denies accusations by Armenia and other countries that 1.5
million Armenians died in a systematic genocide at Turkish hands.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossyan, in Istanbul for
Dink’s funeral, said Armenia remained committed to working with
Turkey.

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Posthumous award to Hrant Dink

ArmRadio.am
25.01.2007 17:45

The Armenian International Cossack Association (AICA) posthumously has
awarded ‘Agos’ Armenian-Turkish bilingual weekly editor Hrant Dink
with "Honor and Fidelity" prize after 1812 war hero Major-General
duke Valerian Madatov. "Yerkramas" newspaper of Russian Armenians
reports that the prize was given to slain Dink’s son and widow by
AICA ataman, Major-General Sergey Madatyan. The Cossack ataman arrived
in Istanbul to attend Hrant Dink’s funeral and to award him with the
above-mentioned prize posthumously.

U.S. CONGRESSMAN CROWLEY TO PRESENT DRAFT CONDEMNING HRANT DINK’S
MURDER IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WASHINGTON, JANUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Joseph Crowley,
a member of the U.S. Congress Caucus on Armenian Issues, Congressman
(democratic, New York) will present this week a resolution at the
House of Representatives by which Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s
murder committed on January 19 in Istanbul will be condemned.

The resolution calls on the House of Representatives to seriously
condemn Hrant Dink’s tragic murder and demands from Turkey to continue
examination of the murder and pursuit of people responsible for
it. "More, the legislation calls on Turkey to initiate corresponing
actions addressed to protection of the freedom of expression in Turkey,
luquidating Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey which defines
criminal punishment for public discussions on the Armenian Genocide,"
is said in the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the Armenian
Assembly of America.

It is expected that such a resolution will be later presented at the
Senate as well.

"The AAA welcomes Congressman Crowley for presenting the legislation
condemning this nasty crime," AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
stated. "Hrant Dink was a brave fighter of the human rights and
intolerance and decisive preacher of democratic amendments. His
death must herald Turkey to fix its attention on the inner changes
taking place in its society. The U.S. must also double its efforts
and persuade the Turkish Government to do more than giving promises
to reform its laws," Ardouny mentioned.

Cicek is wrong. It’s high time to talk about amending Article 301
By Yusuf KANLI

Turkish Daily News
Wed. Jan. 24, 2007
php?ed=yusuf_kanli

It was at the height of a debate on the persecution of intellectuals
in our society, under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK),
when the TDN asked Justice Minister Cemil Cicek during a Sept. 20
reception in Ankara hosted by Sabancı Holding Chairwoman Guler
Sabancı, whether the government would consider making amendments to
the article or totally scrap it.

The minister was very irritated and tried to avoid giving an answer
when I asked why he was so opposed to an amendment – which would
include a detailed clarification as to exactly what constitutes a
crime – to Article 301. However, with a large smile on his face,
he replied, "How willing are you to let people curse at Turkey,
insult Turkishness and get away with it?"

That night, within a few minutes and without giving the minister enough
time to fully answer one question before moving on to the next, I threw
a set of questions at him: But don’t you think this article seriously
infringes on the concept of free thought? Don’t you see that this
article is being used by some people to disseminate hatred? Can’t
we have a new law that complies with the modern understanding of
freedom of expression and opinion, negative or otherwise? Don’t you
think it will be in the best interest of Turkey to draw a line between
criticism and insult? Can there be progress in any area if criticism
is barred? Why are you against the amendment of this article?

He was very irritated. "Parliament is in session to legislate the
reform package, I must go," he responded at first, but seeing that
I had no intention of giving up, he said: "Where were you when the
TCK amendment was being debated? Did you not read the draft at that
time? Were you not aware of this article? Why did you, and others,
not raise your voices at that time? The TCK was legislated only
a short time ago. We need time to see problems that may arise in
practice. This is a serious issue. We cannot make a law and start
talking of amending it the next day, we need to see the application,
let the courts develop an interpretation. There have been different
court verdicts under the same article. Let’s wait and see how it
is implemented and if there is a need, at a later stage we may make
amendments and correct all the problems arising from that and perhaps
other articles. Why are you acting in such haste?"

I don’t want to repeat here how successfully the government had
distracted our attention from the adultery debate and how big a
mistake the intellectuals and progressive personalities of this nation
committed by not focusing well enough on each and every article of
the TCK…

"We were unfortunately debating adultery at that time," I said and
noticed a large smile on the face of Cicek. "You should have been
more attentive. … You should not have let yourself get carried away
with a discussion about one article only to forget about the rest,
including an important package like the TCK," he said.

He was damn right! But we were right as well in demanding immediate
action on Article 301, which we believed was not only devastating
Turkey’s international reputation, but at the same time had become a
tool for a witch-hunt by hard-core nationalists, a major contributor to
the widening polarization in the country and escalation of nationalism
with racist tones.

I should have asked the minister that night as well why the hell
the prosecutors were not taking punitive action against those hordes
attacking not only outside court rooms, but in the courts as well,
against people being prosecuted under the contentious article on
grounds that they insulted "Turkishness."

But, as we were laying to rest our friend and colleague Hrant Dink,
it must be clear to everyone concerned for the future of democracy,
freedom of thought, freedom of press and of minority rights in this
country why we were demanding from the government in such "haste"
to either totally scrap or make radical amendments to Article 301.

Still, it was sad to see the justice minister declaring even on such a
sorrowful day that the last thing Turkey needed was to begin another
debate on Article 301, arguing that the matter should be discussed
in a more suitable atmosphere.

Sorry Cicek. … We are sorry to say but you are totally out of
tune with our people – some of whom turned out in thousands at the
funeral of Dink yesterday while others were glued to their TV sets
watching live coverage of the procession on all news channels –
who are shouting out loud their demand for wider freedom of thought.

Can’t you, Cicek, understand the message in the statement of Rachel
Dink yesterday when she underlined: "He parted from his loved ones;
from his children; from his grandchildren. … even from his life,
but did not part from his homeland." She was speaking after her
husband was made a target by Article 301. Do we have the luxury to
wait longer so that the contentious article produces other targets
for the death squads?

–Boundary_(ID_hZx8coU14WvY9dedNPO4Xg)–

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

&quo t;CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE GENERATES EVIL"
Said HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

"Most of the crises facing the human societies today are due to lack of
confidence. The local, regional and international crisis which surrounds us
may have different forms and expressions; they may be depicted in different
ways; but they all point to one problem: crisis of confidence", said His
Holiness Aram I to the press.

For Catholicos Aram I "mutual agreement is not a prerequisite condition for
confidence-building". Confidence-building is based on "mutual respect,
accepting the other and considering diversity integral to, and indispensable
for human life".

His Holiness warned that lack of confidence "may generate more tension and
violence, if it is not addressed seriously", and urged leaders and nations
"to engage in confidence-building process through frank dialogue as an
efficient way leading to peaceful coexistence and reconciliation". Aram I
stressed the particular role of religion in confidence-building.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Une delegation des Armeniens de France aux obsèques de Hrant Dink en Turquie

Agence France Presse
22 janvier 2007 lundi 2:11 PM GMT

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations armeniennes de France
(CCAF) a annonce lundi qu’il enverrait une delegation a Istanbul pour
representer la communaute armenienne francaise au rassemblement qui
aura lieu mardi en l’honneur de Hrant Dink, journaliste assassine il
y a trois jours.

Cette delegation se rendra devant les locaux de l’hebdomadaire
bilingue turc-armenien Agos, dont Hrant Dink etait le directeur de la
publication, puis a ses obsèques, a precise le CCAF dans un communique.

Il a precise que c’etait la première fois qu’une delegation armenienne
de France se rendrait en Turquie en voyage officiel.

Hrant Dink a ete tue vendredi devant son journal en plein centre de
la rive europeenne d’Istanbul. Il s’etait distingue par son devouement
a la cause du dialogue turco-armenien.

L’assassinat de cet intellectuel ayant critique la position officielle
turque sur les massacres d’Armeniens commis en Anatolie a la fin de
l’empire ottoman, et qualifie de "traître" par l’extreme droite pour
avoir a ce sujet parle de "genocide", a souleve une vague d’emotion
a travers la turquie.

–Boundary_(ID_qvaYIOAS1J8T22WJA9ZW9w)–

Bekir Coskun: Filled with hope today

Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 23 2007

Today I am filled with hope, even if it’s only a bit. From inside,
what I really want to do is run to the windows of my room and yell down
"Thank you…." to the people passing on the boulevard below.

"Thank you to everyone…women and men, the educated and uneducated,
adult and child, everyone….Thank you." Yes, that tiny phrase wants
to come spilling off my lips, and it’s a phrase I have not been able
to say for years: "Thank you Turkey."

I might even sing. I love to sing while crying.

*

Are you aware that a very important thing has happened? The people
of this country are crying after the murder of one of our Armenian
citizens, saying "A bullet has pierced us all."

A women who never even knew Hrant Dink cries on television, saying
"It’s like I was shot."

Almost all the newspapers ran headlines saying "The bullet hit us all."

Newscasters on TV read the news of Hrant Dink’s death with tears in
their eyes.

Can you imagine? This country is screaming "Our child has been killed"
for the Armenian, while labeling the nationalist (!) who shot him a
"traitor to the nation."

*

Thank you Turkey…..

Despite all of the primitive taboos that exist, you have proclaimed
loud and clear that what is most important is just being human.

People who don’t even know eachother are holding signs saying "We
are all Armenians……"

What better response can there be than this to the fanaticism that
turns people against one another?

The funeral today will be crowded. And while, under all the accusations
of a genocide, politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats, and academics
writhed, trying to find an answer, ordinary people from all over Turkey
gathered on the bloody Sisli sidewalk to give their answer in unison:

"Our child has been shot….."

*

Thank you Turkey, thank you. This has been one great step towards
showing that the most important thing is just being human. And
everything else just falls away.