Author: Vanyan Gary

T he Brookings Institution

Ambassador Mark R. Parris Named Visiting Fellow and Director of
Brookings-TUSIAD Project on Turkey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shawn Dhar , Senior Communications Officer, 202/797-6284

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2006) – Mark R. Parris, U.S. ambassador to
Turkey from 1997 to 2000, will join the Brookings Institution as a visiting
scholar, Brookings President Strobe Talbott announced. Working under the
joint auspices of the Center for the United States and Europe (CUSE) and the
Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Ambassador Parris will lead a one-year
project – "Turkey 2007" – organized jointly by Brookings and TUSIAD, the
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association. Parris will be
affiliated with Brookings starting February 1, 2007.

"2007 will be a defining year for Turkey. The spring election of a new
President and subsequent fall general elections will set the course of
Turkish internal politics for the next decade," said Carlos Pascual, vice
president and director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings
Institution. "Developments in Iraq, Iran and the eastern Mediterranean will
both interact with Turkey’s election-year politics and clarify the nature
and direction of its relations with the United States, the Muslim world and
Israel."

As a career Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Parris retired in 2001 after
30 years of service that included assignments to Tel Aviv and Moscow, and
policy level responsibilities at the State Department and National Security
Council. His three years in Ankara were a high point in recent U.S.-Turkish
relations. Since leaving government he has remained involved with Turkey as
senior advisor with the Washington office of Baker Donelson, PC and as
chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Friends of Turkey and the
Advisory Board of the American Turkish Council.

TUSIAD, a co-sponsor of "Turkey 2007," is an Istanbul-based association that
represents Turkey’s largest and most prestigious private companies. For many
years, it has been a leading voice in Turkish civil society for
socio-economic and political reforms in Turkey and for Turkey’s EU
candidacy. "We’re pleased to partner with Brookings in contributing to a
better dialogue between the U.S. and Turkey at such a critical juncture,"
stated TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci. In addition to TUSIAD, "Turkey 2007"
will be supported by individual contributions from Turkey’s private sector.

"Turkey 2007" will seek to encourage a focused, informed discussion in the
U.S. on developments in and around Turkey during what will be an unusually
full and important year for this pivotal country. "By bringing to Washington
on a timely basis some of Turkey’s best political analysts and commentators,
the project will provide an opportunity to move beyond stereotypes that have
recently characterized analysis in this country of Turkey’s political
dynamics," Ambassador Parris said.

*****

The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to
independent research and innovative policy solutions. Celebrating its 90th
anniversary in 2006, Brookings analyzes current and emerging issues and
produces new ideas that matter – for the nation and the world.

STILL RESENTFUL OF MISTREATMENT, BEDIKYAN DISMISSES AZERI EXCUSES
Fulya Ozerkan

Turkish Daily News , Turkey
Dec 28 2006

Bedikyan, a successful pianist sharing the same stage with Turkey’s
leading jazz musicians and who also plays in Sertab Erener’s band,
says he is not planning to return to Baku for any concerts unless
Azerbaijani authorities offer an official apology

Well-known jazz pianist Burak Bedikyan says he was refused entry
to Azerbaijan after being subjected to ill treatment at the airport
because of his Armenian descent and denies Azerbaijani claims that
he was to address thousands during a two-day performance last week
together with Sertab Erener, Turkey’s winner of the 2003 Eurovision
song contest.

"I went to Azerbaijan not to give an outdoor public concert attended
by 10-15,000 people but to perform on two special nights at Baku’s
Gulistan Palace attended by only a VIP audience," Bedikyan told the
Turkish Daily News in an interview.

Turkey formally sought information both from the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry and the Azerbaijani Embassy here with regard to Bedikyan’s
allegations. Ankara’s move came after the young pianist filed verbal
and written complaints with the Turkish Foreign Ministry. "It’s
really ridiculous that [Azerbaijani authorities] give the lack of
a visa as a justification for their refusal to grant me entry, but
everyone knows that a passport is sufficient for all citizens of the
Turkish Republic to enter Azerbaijani territory," Bedikyan said.

Azerbaijani Embassy officials here were not immediately available
to comment on Bedikyan’s charges, but news reports earlier said
Azeri officials refused to issue a visa to the pianist, arguing that
Bedikyan’s name being announced during a concert attended by 10-15,000
could have sparked an incident because Azerbaijan and Armenia were
in a state of war.

Azerbaijan and Armenia, both ex-Soviet republics, are at loggerheads
over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azeri territory occupied by Armenian
troops. The region’s final status remains unresolved, and years of
talks under the auspices of international mediators have brought few
visible results.

Turkey has close ties with Azerbaijan, with which it shares an ethnic
and linguistic heritage, but it severed diplomatic relations with
Armenia due to Yerevan’s unsettled dispute with Azerbaijan.

Bedikyan, a Turkish citizen, accused Azerbaijani authorities at Baku
Airport of mistreating him and refusing him entry upon arrival for
a concert on Dec. 19. He was forced to return to Istanbul and could
not join his band, insisting that he was singled out and mistreated
despite his Turkish citizenship.

"We were taken to the VIP section upon our arrival at Baku Airport
and waited for passport checks. Erener was given priority in her
entry procedure and then sent to her hotel. Azerbaijani authorities
called me, demanded my identity card and then asked for my surname. I
answered them but later they again asked my surname. I again told
them my surname was Bedikyan, and they asked my nationality. I said
I was a Turkish citizen as set out in my passport and identity card
and that I was of Armenian descent. Later they talked to one another,
and the only words I could make out from their conversation were
‘Christian and Armenian’," he said.

"Almost 15 minutes later three Azerbaijani officials took me from the
airport," continued Bedikyan, "and made me get on a bus and took me to
another part of the airport. They did not answer my questions, though
I asked calmly and respectfully, and they rebuked me when I continued
to insistently seek an explanation. They even threatened me. I waited
for almost three hours. I was not allowed to drink water or make
a call. They approached me in a very unfriendly and hostile way. In
fact, I was sent back to Istanbul before realizing what had happened."

Bedikyan said he was refused entry without reason after being
mistreated, just like an enemy, despite the efforts of production
manager Serkan Guney, who was also threatened by Azerbaijani officials
with being taken to the police station if he insisted on objecting.

"It took me two to three days to get my luggage after arriving in
Istanbul. I later informed the Foreign Ministry both verbally and in a
written complaint, and thankfully the ministry took up the incident,"
he added.

Despite the absence of Bedikyan, Erener gave her concerts in Baku.

The pianist says more could have been done and that Erener could have
stood up for him, but he declined to elaborate further to avoid a
battle of words.

"I’m a jazz musician. I am not the only pianist in Erener’s band.

I’m accompanying Erener in her concerts together with another pianist,
Tulug Tirpan; however, if I were the only pianist, the incident in
Azerbaijan could have been more serious because it would not have
been possible to perform the concert with only Erener and a guitar,"
he said.

Bedikyan, who shares the same stage with Turkey’s leading jazz
musicians, said he was not planning to travel to Azerbaijan again for
a concert unless Azerbaijani authorities offered an official apology.

"First of all, I certainly don’t take the incident personally, but
I see it as disrespect and a mistake against the Turkish Republic,
of which I’m a citizen," he said.

But Bedikyan said he harbored no hostility against Azerbaijan, adding
that he could go again after everything was settled amicably.

COLUMN ONE: GLAD TIDINGS OF PEACE PROCESSES
By Caroline Glick

Jerusalem Post
Dec 25 2006

You have to wonder what thoughts passed through the minds of
Bethlehem’s Christians as Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah
commander Mahmoud Abbas appeared at the Church of the Nativity for
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

On April 2, 2002, as IDF forces swept into Bethlehem to root out
the terrorists who had taken control of the city, between 150 and
180 Fatah terrorists under Yasser Arafat’s command shot their way
into the Church of the Nativity. For the next 39 days they held the
sacred site and some 150 clergymen hostage.

Three weeks into the siege, three Armenian monks escaped from the
church through a side entrance and revealed what was happening
inside. Friar Narkiss Koraskian told reporters: "They stole
everything. They stole our prayer books and four crosses. They didn’t
leave anything."

When the siege ended, the released hostages told of frequent beatings
of clergymen. The terrorists, they told The Washington Times, "ate
like greedy monsters," gorging themselves on food and slurping down
beer, wine and Johnny Walker scotch they stole from the rectory as
their hostages went hungry.

CATHOLIC priests said that the terrorists used their bibles as toilet
paper. Franciscan priest Nicholas Marques from Mexico reported:
"Palestinians took candelabra, icons and anything that looked like
gold." Thirteen of the ring-leaders of the siege were deported to
Cyprus and then dispersed to European countries. Twenty-six were sent
to Gaza.

Bethlehem’s Christians could not hide their relief at the expulsions.

They spoke of a "reign of terror," of rape, murder and extortion that
the men had waged against them over the previous two years. Helen,
a Christian woman, told The Washington Times, "Finally the Christians
can breathe freely. We are so delighted that these criminals who have
intimidated us for such a long time are going away."

On Saturday night, as part of his massive effort to "strengthen"
Abbas, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to convene a joint committee
to discuss the return of these terrorists to the city.

Speaking of his good friend Mahmoud on Sunday afternoon to a Kadima
audience in Ashkelon, Olmert allowed that "Abu Mazen [Abbas] is an
adversary." But, he explained, he is an enemy Olmert can do business
with.

IT IS TRUE that business sometimes can be done with enemies. But what
business can Olmert do with Abbas? And how does any of this business
advance Israel’s national interests?

At the cabinet meeting Sunday, Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin embraced
Olmert’s decision to "strengthen" Abbas, by, among other things,
giving him $100m. and agreeing to release terrorists from Israeli
prisons even without receiving so much as a sign of life from IDF
Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who has been held hostage by Abbas’s underlings
and their Hamas pals in Gaza for the past six months.

Diskin warned the ministers that if elections were held today in
the PA, Hamas would win hands down. Not only would they retain their
control over the PA government, they would no doubt rout Abbas himself
and take over his presidency.

In light of the Palestinians’ apparent satisfaction with their lot
at being governed by genocidal jihadists from Hamas as opposed to
corrupt genocidal jihadists from Fatah like the ones who took over
the Church of the Nativity, the government believes that it needs to
make the PA irrelevant – a mere school district – as one government
official put it. In the meantime, the real power will be placed in
the hands of the Fatah-controlled PLO.

There are of course, two problems with this. First, that "mere school
district" will be armed to the teeth and controlled by an Iranian- (and
Saudi-) trained, funded and armed regime that is overwhelmingly popular
among its "students." This little backwater will continue to serve
as a nexus for global jihad that is little different from Somalia.

Hamas has made clear that it will fight to the last man to protect
its regime. Yet in the interest of "strengthening Abbas," Israel is
doing nothing to weaken Hamas either militarily or politically.

THE SECOND problem with the "school district" strategy is that the
edifice of power the Olmert government seeks to replace the PA with
has no interest in making peace with Israel. To the contrary, far
from seeking to transform the PA into a liberal, pacific democracy
committed to peaceful coexistence with Israel (or for that matter,
just freeing Shalit from captivity), Abbas seeks to strengthen the
terrorist character of Palestinian society.

Abbas’s demands of Olmert make this fact perfectly clear.

If Abbas were interested in peace he would not be demanding that Israel
release terrorists from prison; stop arresting wanted terrorists;
make it easier for terrorists to operate in Judea and Samaria by
suspending IDF counterterror operations and taking down roadblocks;
bring more terrorists into the areas from Jordan; arm terrorists
through Egypt; and give him money to pay the salaries of terrorists.

If Abbas wanted peace he would be asking the IDF to escalate its
fight against the terrorists. He would prefer that they rot in jail
and not be released to enjoy the freedom to kill again.

In other words, if Abbas were interested in peace he would be doing
precisely the opposite of what he is doing.

THERE ARE three reasons why Olmert and his government are acting as
they are. First, they are doubtless bowing to pressure from the Bush
administration. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated several
times over the past week alone that the US has decided that its
interest is advanced by Israel giving things to Abbas. But is US
pressure a reasonable justification for Olmert’s treatment of Abbas?

Olmert justifies his refusal to negotiate with Syrian dictator and
Iranian toadie Bashar Assad by noting that the Bush administration
strenuously objects to holding such talks. Yet this is a flimsy excuse
for not negotiating with Syria. Even if the US were pressuring Israel
to negotiate with Syria it would make no sense to engage Assad because
Israel has absolutely nothing to gain from doing so.

As is the case with Abbas, by holding talks with Syria Israel would
be conferring unwarranted legitimacy on Assad while receiving nothing
of value in return. If Syria agreed to the handover of IDF hostages
Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser and to ending Syrian sponsorship of
Palestinian terror groups and Hizbullah in return for negotiations
with Israel, it might make sense to confer such legitimacy on Assad
even if the US objected. But Assad will do no such thing, and so
there is nothing to be gained from talking to him.

So too, were Abbas to agree to fork over Shalit and end Fatah terrorism
and indeed cooperate with the IDF in fighting Hamas and Islamic Jihad,
there would be something to be gained by meeting with him – regardless
of the US’s position.

Although US pressure is real, it would be relatively easy to brush off
simply by publicly pointing out the obvious. Aside from Washington’s
carping, Olmert’s decision to "strengthen" Abbas stems from the fact
that his government has no strategic vision whatsoever.

Cast adrift, Olmert is moved by the prevailing winds.

FOR THE PAST two weeks or so, since Assad began chirping about his
wish to negotiate, the leftist-controlled Israeli media has been
excoriating Olmert for bowing to Washington by refusing to meet with
Assad. The weekend papers were full of condemnations by the chief
diplomatic commentators in the major papers demanding that Olmert
give the Golan Heights to Assad regardless of what the fuddy duddies
in Washington think.

And so, Saturday night’s kissy-kissy meeting with Abbas was aimed,
among other things, at shutting them up. And it worked quite nicely.

Both Ma’ariv and Yediot Ahronot merrily proclaimed in their Sunday
editions that Abbas was a stand-in for Assad – but he’d do for now.

Finally, it is impossible to ignore the contribution the apparent
stupidity of Israel’s leaders made to Olmert’s decision to embrace
Abbas.

Sunday morning, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni exposed this idiocy when
she asked Diskin whether he thought that Hamas was strong enough
to stop the rocket attacks on Sderot and the Western Negev. In
response, Diskin gently pointed out that Hamas is a terror group
that is dedicated to destroying Israel, and so while it could stop
the rockets, it has no interest in doing so.

GEE, HOW COME she didn’t think of that? But then Diskin inanely
opined that if Israel responds to the rocket attacks on Sderot’s
kindergartens, elementary schools and apartment blocks, Hamas will
get really mad at us for breaching the cease-fire that only the IDF
upholds and will continue to attack us.

In light of his schoolhouse analysis, Diskin concluded that there’s
nothing we can do except pretend that the terrorists will change
their minds about attacking us after we reward them for doing so by
giving them money to pay themselves, bullets and rifles to shoot us
with, send their terrorist buddies home from prison to join them in
attacking us, and maintain the imaginary ceasefire to enable them to
shoot at us with impunity.

In the meantime, while Olmert is planning to spring terrorists from
prison next week in honor of the Islamic holiday, Gaza’s Christians
were too terrified to go to their Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. So
the mass was cancelled.

And in Bethlehem, as the dwindling Christian population reeled with
the news that their tormentors may soon return to rape, murder and
extort them again, Manger Square stood near-empty on Christmas.

But at least the peace process is getting back on track.

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Moscow wins Georgia gas battle

Agencies in Moscow
Saturday December 23, 2006
The Guardian

Georgia caved in yesterday and agreed to pay more than double current
rates for Russian natural gas after Moscow threatened to cut off
supplies if the new price was not accepted. The development revived
concerns that Russia is determined to use its mineral assets as a
political weapon to intimidate neighbours.

Georgia has complained that it is being punished by Russia for leaning
closer to the west following its 2003 "rose revolution". It has accused
Russia and its state-owned gas group, Gazprom, of "political blackmail"
for raising prices to levels that could threaten the Georgian economy.

The leadership in Tbilisi has been keen to source supplies from
neighbouring Azerbaijan. But the Georgian prime minister, Zurab
Nogaideli, said Azerbaijani gas would not come on stream for several
months at least, leaving the country with no option but to turn back
to Russia. Under yesterday’s deal, prices will more than double to
$235 per 1,000 cubic metres.

Russia’s dealings with its southern neighbour have heightened fears
that it is wielding its formidable energy reserves as a political tool
to cow erstwhile allies. Relations with Georgia hit their lowest point
in years when Georgia briefly detained four Russian military officers
on spying charges this autumn. Moscow retaliated with an economic
and transport blockade and a crackdown on Georgian migrants. Under
President Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia has become a US ally, pushing
for closer ties with the EU.

ArmRosgazprom to Exercise Iran-Armenia Gas Pipeline Exploitation

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2006 16:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The concluding construction works at the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will be finished by the end of the
current year. After the essential tests the Iranian gas will be
pumped to Armenia, RA Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan told a news
conference in Yerevan. In his words, the exploitation of the gas
pipeline will be exercised by ArmRosrazprom while the gas pipeline
will be the property of High-Voltage Electric Networks state
company. "Exploitation of a pipeline by an experienced company is
economically beneficial. ArmRosrazprom is a company of the kind in
Armenia. It’s not ruled out that in future the 40-km gas pipeline
will be put on balance of ArmRosrazprom as an addition to the share
of the Armenian government in the authorized capital stock of the
company. With availability of beneficial terms bargain is quite
possible," the Minister added, reports IA Regnum.

No need to change the format of the talks, Azeri FM considers

ArmRadio.am
22.12.2006 16:31

Summing up the results of the past year in an interview with "Trend"
agency Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov noted that "the
process of negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
which is the priority of Azerbaijani foreign policy, proceeded very
intensively." He voiced hope that progress on the issue will be
achieved in 2007.

According to Mammadyarov, "the development of the regional and world
situation is leading to this." Saying "we are used to the "surprises"
of the Armenian side, Mammadyarov noted, "If we consider that 2007 is
an election year in Armenia, it can be presented as a "factor." But
I hope that the authorities of Armenia will take a correct decision
and will demonstrate political will."

"As for the format of the talks, currently there is no need to change
it, since in 2006 and before that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
carried out immense work in the framework of the Prague process,
and I hope their efforts will not pass in vain," the Azeri Foreign
Minister added.

AUTHOR CLEARED OF INSULTING TURKEY’S FOUNDING FATHER

Agence France Presse — English
December 19, 2006 Tuesday 12:44 PM GMT

An Istanbul court on Tuesday cleared a best-selling author of charges
of insulting modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in a book
about his wife at a time of EU pressure on the country to ensure
freedom of speech, the writer’s lawyer said.

Veteran journalist Ipek Calislar risked up to four-and-a-half years
in jail under a special law to protect the legacy of the much-revered
Ataturk for insulting him in a biography about his wife Latife Ussaki.

She was charged along with Necdet Tatlican, an editor of the
mass-selling daily Hurriyet, which published excerpts of the book.

The judge ruled Tuesday in the second hearing of the trial that the
alleged offense had not taken place and acquitted both defendants,
attorney Fikret Ilkiz told AFP.

In her book "Latife Hanim", released in June, Calislar draws a fresh
portrait of Ataturk’s enigmatic wife, whose image to Turks has been
one of a shrill and bossy shrew blamed for the collapse in 1925 of
her short-lived marriage with the national hero.

The passage that landed Calislar in court quotes a witness as telling
how Ataturk, facing an armed attack by a political opponent, put on a
chador to disguise himself as a woman to flee the presidential palace
in Ankara.

The suit was filed on a petition to the court by a reader of the book,
Huseyin Tugrul Pekin, who wrote: "It is the greatest insult to claim
that Mustafa Kemal, whose courage none of us would dare judge, did
something like that."

Dozens of Turkish intellectuals, among them 2006 Nobel literature
laureate Orhan Pamuk, have been put on trial over the past year for
dissident views.

Most of them have been charged over remarks contesting the official
line on the massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire under
a controversial penal code article which makes it a crime to insult
"Turkishness" and state institutions.

The European Union has warned this goes against European standards
on freedom of speech which the country must meet if it is to join
the bloc.

No one has been imprisoned under the provision, but the appeals
court in July confirmed the suspended six-month sentence against
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, setting a precedent for 70
other pending cases.

"THE KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NO ONE’S PROPERTY"

A1+
[08:23 pm] 18 December, 2006

"The authorities are trying to nip the political struggle in the bud",
announced leader of Liberal -Progressive Party of Armenia Hovhannes
Hovhannisyan in "Pastark" club. He assured that all the steps of the
authorities are directed towards the realization of that aim.

According to him, the struggle for the 2007 Parliamentary elections is
out of political discussions, "That struggle is based on ‘good guys’
and their wealth. The authorities do everything in order to exclude the
existence of political will and development in Armenia. As a result
of that the authorities announce that we are going to elections but
we have no right to speak about problems, particularly about the
Karabakh conflict".

Referring to Robert Kocharyan’s statement that it would be immoral to
use the Karabakh conflict during the elections, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan
said, "What is immoral is to use the Karabakh conflict in order to
keep power. The Karabakh conflict is no one’s property and all the
Armenians must contribute to its settlement. The Karabakh conflict is
the most important component of the RA foreign policy, and if they tell
us we must not speak about that component, it is at least surprising".

Mr. Hovhannisyan also claimed that during the last eight years the
authorities have not had any progress in the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. "The authorities did everything to make the parliament the
marionette of the executive power and they succeeded in 2003. Today
they are trying to do the same in 2007.

This way they are casting a shadow on the future of our people".

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 15 2006

Armenian Patriarch Urges EU to Continue with Turkey
By Sezai Kalayci, Istanbul
Friday, December 15, 2006
zaman.com

Patriarch Mesrob II, the head of the Armenian Orthodox Church in
Turkey, sent out a letter to the leaders of all European countries
asking them to support Turkey’s EU bid during the European Council
meeting.

The letter was sent on Dec. 12 to 23 EU leaders, except Greek and
Greek Cypriot leaders.

Mesrob Mutafian reminded EU leaders the obligations of the union and
asked them to fulfill their promises.

The Armenian patriarch said Mustafa Kemal urged Turkey in the 1920s
to turn to the West, adding: `It is of utmost significance that the
EU should not force Turkey to fulfill multifaceted conditions and
derail negotiations, while ignoring its obligations.’

Mutafian said as the leader of the Armenian Orthodox community he
wanted to convey his opinions and concerns ahead of the council
meeting started the previous day, and indicated that EU leaders’
decision regarding Turkey would have impacts in a wide context.

The current impasse over Turkey-EU relations would put Turkey’s
accession process to the union in a risky position, the Patriarch
said, adding: `This critical period should be handled with
responsibility.’

Argentinean Senate unanimously adopts a Law on Armenian Genocide

Azad Hye
December 14, 2006

On 13th December 2006 the Argentinean Senate unanimously adopted a law,
according to which April 24 will be marked as "Day of action for the
tolerance and the respect between the people" in Argentine.

57 Senators attending the voting session approved the Law based on a
Resolution adopted earlier by the lower house of Argentina’s parliament,
recognizing the 1915-1918 mass killings and deportations of the Armenians in
the Ottoman Turkey as genocide.

Present at the voting, Ambassador of Armenia Vladimir Karmirshalyan
declared: "I share the joy and the pride with the present people, the
Armenian Community and Armenia. Argentina showed, once again, its devotion
to the cause of the human rights and its serious comprehension of the
aspirations of the Armenian people". The law should be ratified soon by the
Argentinean president.

As soon as the final results were announced, Armenians present at this
historical vote in the Senate Hall celebrated with a barrage of applauds.
ARF Bureau member Mario Nalbandian and his colleagues who for many years
struggled to achieve this (through the efforts of the "Armenian Cause
Committee in South America") received the congratulations of the Senators
and other leading politicians of the Argentinean society.

On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration the
Argentinean Senate honored on 12th December 2006 several activists amongst
them Pedro Mouratian (the former Chairman of the "Armenian Cause Committee
in South America"), who was praised for his long term commitment to the
progress of human rights issues.

During the award granting ceremony Argentinean Vice President Daniel Scioli
made reference to the Armenians by the following words:

"I would like to express my thoughts regarding the Armenian community, which
has been victim of persecutions and Genocide. Argentine, a country that has
been always a mosaic of peoples, has opened its arms to the sons of the
Armenian nation. By honoring them today we express our respect to all the
immigrants who reached our shores, seeking prosperity. And since we wish
that Argentine lives in unity, peace and without discrimination, we pay our
tribute to the Armenian community"

Photos:
1- Argentinean Senate during the voting of the 24 April Law (13 December
2006)
2- Pedro Mouratian delivers a speech in the presence of Vice President of
Argentine Daniel Scioli during award ceremony of human rights activists.

Sources: Jean Eckian (France), "Yerkir" online (Armenia), Graciela
Kevorkian, Diego Karamanougian and "Armenia" daily (Argentine)

Photos: 21dzh41