Author: Vardanian Garo

ARF ARCHIVES INSTITUTE ESTABLISHED

Yerkir
19.01.2009 18:33

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Following the decisions of the past ARF conventions,
ARF Archives Institute has been established to maintain and classify
the 118-years old archives of the party.

A serious work has been accomplished in recent years and five volumes
have been published until now under the title of "Materials for
ARF History." The volumes include the period between 1890 and 1907,
including the materials of the four general conventions.

Vache Brutian, who had been the editor of the Asbarez for a year, has
been appointed the director of the archives. He said the digitalization
of the archives would be a priority. Eventually, the archival materials
existing until now would be classified too.

Those materials include a copy of the first publication of the
ARF Manifesto, letters by the ARF founders, records of general
conventions, legal documents, maps. The institute has its web site:

The office is situated at ARF Archives Institute 420 Washington Blvd.,
Montebello, CA 90640.

The Armenian Reporter

Can Turkey become a deal-maker in the Karabakh conflict?
by Masis Mayilian
Published: Friday January 09, 2009

Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh – The resolution of the Karabakh conflict is a
key to making substantial progress in ensuring security and cooperation in
the South Caucasus. This conflict directly involves one unrecognized and two
recognized state entities – or fully half of the region’s six state
entities. A sustainable peace arrangement would have to take into account
the priority interests of all parties to the conflict.

What concerns Karabakh Armenians most of all? The secure existence of the
Armenian population of the region in its own homeland.

Background
The problem of Nagorno-Karabakh first emerged in 1918 after the collapse of
the Czarist Empire – in connection with territorial delimitation between
newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan. This dispute became an issue of
consideration for the League of Nations.

But in 1921, with the Sovietization of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Bolshevik
Party made a unilateral decision establishing the Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region inside Soviet Azerbaijan. That decision ignored the will
of the majority of Karabakh Armenians, who then made up more than 90 percent
of the population.

In Karabakh, the older generation remembers how in the Soviet period,
Azerbaijani authorities systematically violated the rights of Karabakh
Armenians, pursuing a repressive policy aimed at changing the demographic
make-up of Artsakh in favor of ethnic Azerbaijanis.

Armenians suffered murders, disappearances and abuse, arrests, show trials
of political prisoners, exile, suppression of dissidents, and deportation of
residents of dozens of populated settlements.

The present generation of the Karabakh people faced a real threat of
complete annihilation in the course of the large-scale armed aggression
launched by Azerbaijan in 1992. Only at the expense of huge human and
material losses did the people of Karabakh manage to stop the war, which
directly affected practically each Karabakh family, resulting in thousands
of deaths.

In Soviet times, mindful of the Kremlin, Azerbaijan behaved relatively
cautiously. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Azerbaijani
political leadership embraced more openly violent measures and direct armed
aggression against Karabakh.

Priorities today
Since its first appearance on the political map in 1918, Azerbaijan, under
all its regimes, has aimed to expel or physically annihilate the Armenians
of Artsakh. That is why ensuring the external security of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its people remains an urgent task.

On the other hand, NKR does not threaten Azerbaijan’s secure existence and
development. On the contrary, since Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan and
signing the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan’s macro-economic indicators –
driven by Caspian energy – are showing rapid growth.

For Azerbaijan claims on the Karabakh territories are in category of
political ambition rather than an existential matter, as they are for
Karabakh Armenians.

De facto borders established as a result of the 1994 cease-fire are one of
the key elements providing for stability, and by extension security and
development of all the regional countries. For NKR especially, they ensure
its military, food, energy, and ecological security.

Karabakh’s long-term security can be provided only through recognition of
the independent statehood of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Attaining
international recognition is not a goal in itself; rather it is a mechanism
for ensuring Karabakh’s security.

At the same time, recognition of NKR by global and regional powers could
help prod Azerbaijan to overcome the existing psychological barriers and
begin to shed its hostile policies.

Western recognition of Kosovo helped Serbia moved toward integration with
the European Union. A similar scenario with international recognition of
Karabakh would help the Caucasus region’s long-term stability and contribute
to energy security of Europe.

Turkey’s role in Karabakh: history
The tempo of official contacts between Armenia and Turkey has intensified in
the last several months. Ankara has also expressed interest in stepping up
its role in the Karabakh peace process.

What role has Turkey played in the Karabakh conflict so far and how can this
role evolve?

Throughout the conflict between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, Turkey always
supported Azerbaijan. Turkish forces played the leading military role in the
first stage of the conflict in 1918-20.

And in the last two decades, we have witnessed the strategic
Azerbaijani-Turkish partnership, including Turkish military aid to
Azerbaijan in the process of its armed aggression against NKR, and
continuing participation of Turkey in the hostile land blockade of Armenia
and NKR.

At the same time, since 1992 Turkey has been a member of the OSCE Minsk
Group, which is mediating the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Thus, in our conflict with Azerbaijan, Turkey has attempted to play a dual
role of indirect participant and mediator.

According to regional experts, including representatives of the Turkish
expert community, there is a perception in Ankara that the policy toward
Armenia and NKR to date has not been effective.

Additionally, the new configuration of forces in the South Caucasus after
the recent war in Georgia stimulated Turkey to consider correcting its
approach.

A series of visits by Turkish leaders to the countries of the region and
Moscow and the initiative to create a "security platform" in the Caucasus
show evolution in Ankara’s regional role.

Turkey’s potential role
Will Turkey be able to find a new place in the region and play a positive
role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict?

This is possible only if Turkey abandons its unconditional support for
Azerbaijan and establishes its neutrality, as would be appropriate for a
member of an international mediation mission.
Turkey remains influential in Azerbaijan and it could potentially make a
constructive contribution to settling the Karabakh conflict.
Only Turkey is capable of persuading Azerbaijan to give up claims on a small
part of Soviet Azerbaijani territory for the sake of preserving Azerbaijan’s
real sovereignty. Turkey itself did something similar a century ago,
relinquishing its territorial demands in the Middle East and earlier in the
Balkans.
Otherwise, continuation of Azerbaijan’s current line of conduct will make
this energy-rich country into a dependent source of raw materials for other
states. If it remains hostage to its ungrounded ambitions, Azerbaijan risks
further setbacks, including loss of key transportation routes.
The history of Armenian-Turkish relations for the last century is burdened
by tragic pages. The Armenian Genocide, support for Azerbaijan’s aggression
against Karabakh Armenians, and the blockade of Armenia contribute to strong
mistrust of the sincerity of Turkish initiatives.
But through practical steps like giving up demands for Armenian territorial
concessions to Azerbaijan, the establishment of diplomatic relations with
Armenia, and the opening of the land border, a new page in Armenian-Turkish
relations could be opened.
These steps will demonstrate to us that we are dealing with a modern Turkey
rather than one still following outdated racialist pan-Turkic doctrine.
If we find that we are dealing with a progressive country, then perhaps in
the 21st century our generation of Armenians and Turks will be able to focus
their dialogue on subjects that bring us together around mutual interests
rather than serve to push the two neighboring nations apart.
The Karabakh and Cyprus conflicts, Kurdish issues and Euro-integration
provide opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Honest dialogue, building up of economic and humanitarian contacts,
realization of scientific, educational and cultural cooperation will
contribute to elimination of tension between our two peoples and help add to
regional peace and security.
This article is based on the author’s presentation at the "Armenia-Turkey
Dialogue Series" seminar organized by the Caucasus Institute (Armenia) and
TESEV (Turkey) in Yerevan on November 21, 2008.
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YEMENI JEWS, MINORITY CRIMINALIZES ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST GAZA
Mohammad al-Matari and Wahib al-Nusari

Yemen News Agency

J an 15 2009
Yemen

Despite their positive attitude with Palestinians, Yemeni Jewish
Minority is afraid of any reaction from their Muslims neighbors
because of brutal genocides committed by Israel against Gaza people.

Palestine and Yemeni Jews

When ever there are genocides committed by Israel against
Palestinians, Jewish community is exposed to harassment by their
Moslem neighbors. Israeli aggression against Gaza people and killing
of the Yemeni Jewish Masha Annihari are two incidents evoked shedding
lights on Jewish minority in Yemen.

"Harassments against us are increasing whenever Israel carries out
massacres against Palestinians. Killing incident of the Jewish Masha
Annihari is personal one and now is in judiciary from which we hope
justices to us," said one of Yemeni Jews.

"Israeli killings of Palestinian people force us to stay at our houses
fearing of harassments by persons do not understand that Yemeni Jews
have no thing to do with what is happing in Palestine," said Rabi of
Raida Jews, Yahya Yaeesh.

"What is happening in Palestine does not satisfy God and His
Messenger. What is happening is a crime against Palestine and against
all religions," added Yaeesh.

While Suleiman Yacoob, Yemen Jewish citizen says what Israel is doing
does not satisfy any person and that Allah prohibits killing human
being. "The Yemeni Jews are against genocides in Palestine and the
harassments we face are personal," he affirmed.

Yemeni legislations do not differentiate between Muslim and Jewish
citizens. There is no gesture in the law or in constitution denies
Yemeni Jews of their rights, says Yacoob. They are Yemeni citizens
and have the same rights and responsibilities. He even says that they
participate in political process. They vote and run in parliamentarian
and local elections.

Saeed bin Israel, another Jewish citizen, says "Jews face several
harassments from some Muslims, namely young people. These harassments
happen in markets, streets and while in their work.

But Suleiman Yaqoob affirms that Jewish sect has strong and
humanitarian relations with Muslims "we share all occasions, wedding
parities and Qat sessions."

Over returning Jewish citizen to justice because of harassments he
faces, Yaqoob says "we prefer being patients and avoiding any harm
as much as we can." He notes that political leadership gives Jewish
citizen more care and concern.

Responding to harassments against Jews, Sheikh Abdul-Naser al-Ghuli,
the head of the area where Jewish community live, Raidah, says
" incidents in Palestine and Israeli practices; killing children,
women and others are reflected on Jewish citizen in Yemen. They face
harassments by inferior people."

He affirms that dignitaries in the region interfere in protecting
Jewish minority as traditional and tribal duty not only as Islamic one.

Religious freedom does not abolish citizenship

According Yemeni inherited traditions and conventions; the Yemeni
Jewish has the right to own a weapon but is not allowed to carry
it outdoors.

"These conventions consider a Jew as Themi (Arabic meaning of Jew of
Christian under Moslems rule) which means that his protection is in
Moslems consciences. This convention represents precautionary measure
for avoiding any problem could happen with others," says Sheikh Fuad
al-Malahi, one of dignitaries in the region where Jews live.

However, Jews prefer solving their small problems themselves through
heads of quarters of the same belief. "We prefer settling our problems
as the whole Yemenis do. If there are great issues, Jews are subject
to tribal norms via the head of the quarters or dignitaries they
exist in," says Masha al-Hala.

"Jews do not mind returning to Islamic Law for settling their issues;
especially in issues do not harm their legislations and beliefs. Allah
is only one and His rules, regarding justice and rights are similar
in several religions," he added.

In Raidah area where Jews live, there are two churches to them;
the first one Kanis Yaeesh is before the house of Rabi Yaeesh bin
Yahya and the second in the local market. The Kanis or the church
is a place for worshiping and performing prayers besides teaching
children basis of Judaism. But after building two schools for Jews,
the role of the church has been limited on worshiping only. They are
only opened during times of prayers and religious occasions.

Jews are enjoying religious freedom enable them complete worship
freedom in zones they live in. They practice all their religious
rites in these churches. They are allowed to build places for their
worship without facing harassments by local Moslems.

Jewish minority is coexisting with Muslim majority in the area. Member
of local council in the region Abdurraqib Muthafar affirmed no
existence of "any racialism sigh towards the Jew from perspective of
citizenship, cohabitation and rights."

"They are (Jews) part of the society they enjoy the same services,
projects and interests within the geography they live in," he said. He
added that there is no difference between the two parts only in
religion issues.

Similar traditions

Social occasions and traditions of Jews do not differ much with of
Muslims. Differences are limited only on occasions with religious basis
such as marriage. Their religious teachings argues on early marriage,
thinking that early marriage prevents youth against committing adultery
and that female is aging early.

Like rest of Yemenis, Jews suffer from the problem of high
dowries. Marriage contract is conducted with attendance of the marrying
couple (the bride and the bridegroom).But unlike Muslim they do not
authorize relatives of the bride or the bridegroom to sign marriage
contract but the couple sign it themselves.

"Marriage contract is signed with attendance of ten Jews; two of
them are witnesses of signing the contract written by religious man
or Rabbi. the rest of the attendances are reading texts of Torah,"
said director of Ashabazi School in Raida Fayz al-Jeradi.

He further said, the contract is written in Armenian because most of
Talmud language is Armenian. "Wedding party lasts for seven days in
every house of the two families (of bride and bridegroom). The bride
does not wear the white dress, usually used by every bride in the
world but the old dress Yemeni bride used to wear in the past. She
also does not wear the crown," he added.

Over polygamy, researcher Zaid Hajar says "we find great ratio of
married men are looking for new marriage, especially among Jewish
well to do sects."

"Like Muslims, we marry more than a wife. If one of us is qualified
and able to marry, no matter of having multi-wives," said Rabi Yaieesh
bin Yahya, who died last year.

Concerning divorce, the Jewish citizen has the right to divorce his
wife if he wants. Upon this divorce the woman could get her delayed
dowry they both agreed upon. He also can restore his wife during
the early months of divorce period called in Arabic Eddah. But if he
wants to restore his wife during this period, their return to each
other becomes forbidden as the case in Islam.

"Divorce is difficult twenty times of getting married," says al-Jeradi
who is also teacher of Hebrew. Concerning male circumcision, this
process is conducted the eighth day of birth of the baby in a ceremony
to which family members invite their relatives to a banquet. The
family slaughter sheep for the banquet.

Concerning dying rituals among Yemeni Jews, they are not differ so
much of Muslims only in some cases. Before the patient’s soul leaves
the body, the dying patient is laid toward Jerusalem. Then after
washing, enshrouding and perfuming him, his relatives and friends
lead by their Rabi are mourning.

Jews Festivals

Jews give religious Eids great attention due to religious
rituals. Yemeni Jews have several festivals and the have their special
way for celebrating them.

"Jews have seven festivals around the year according Jewish calendar
starts in "Tashrine" October, the new year. Among these festivals
are three in one month, "Nisan" or April," said Saee bin Israel.

According to bin Israel, Jews festivals start on Tashrin or October. In
this Eid or festival Jews pray and perform rites such blowing in the
horn of the ram symbolizing the escape ram Allah gave it to Ibraham
to slaughter for saving Ismael.

Then there is the Hebrew New Year which is called Kippur day. This
festival marks the day when God accepted repentance of those who
worshiped the bullock. While Eid al-Fish is the greatest ceremony for
the Jews because this festival marks the day when Allah saved His
prophet Muses from Pharaoh and then Jews have been saved and freed
of Pharaoh’s Tyranny.

This Eid or festival is equal to Muslims’ Eid al-Adha. Jews slaughter
emulations for praising God.

Jews and Muslims, similar prayers

Over Jews prayers bin Israel says" Jews have three prayers a day,
Fajer (early morning), al-Asr (afternoon prayer) and Maghreb (sunset
prayer)." Every prayer has four Raka’ats or bowings but there is no
Sujoud or (prostration) except in Fajr prayer.

Over Eid praye, Jews consider this prayer additional one besides
Fajr prayer. After performing Eid praye, they supplicate to God for
forgiveness and asking happiness and protection against evil.

WE MUST NOT YIELD TO SOME CONDITIONS AT EXPENSE OF COUNTRY’S SECURITY, GALUST SAHAKIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Jan 15, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "To say that not only the Council
of Europe but the European structures treat Armenia badly and that
we take no interest in that is a false approach," the head of the
"RPA" parliamentary faction, deputy chairman of the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) Galust Sahakian said at the "De-Facto Law" Club on
January 15, noting that the authorities are doing everything possible
to strengthen Armenia’s place and position in international structures.

"Of course, we would like the PACE not to apply sanctions against
our delegation. We must not yield to some conditions at the expense
of the country’s security," he said. As regards the PACE Monitoring
Committee’s December decision that approves the draft resolution
on Armenia, G. Sahakian noted that he has a higher opinion about
the PACE so he is not sure that the PACE will adopt the preliminary
version of the draft which, in particular, proposes suspending the
Armenian delegation’s voting right in the PACE. In the opinion of
G. Sahakian, the main requirements of the resolutions have been
completely implemented. "It is another matter that we have serious
problems related to the presidential election and in general, some
problems which we as a sovereign state must solve," G. Sahakian
said. He expressed an opinion that there is democracy in Armenia but
it is "quite far from being perfect".

G. Sahakian commented on the severe criticism that the member of RPA
board Rafik Petrosian recently levelled at the head of the Armenian
delegation in PACE David Harutyunian. G. Sahakian called it "a sad
and unpleasant story".

In his words, the issue of replacing the delegation head is neither
on the agenda of RPA nor is expected to be put on the agenda.

In response to a question of NT correspondent, G. Sahakian stated that
no meeting of the PACE Monitoring Committee’s co-rapporteurs who are
on a visit to Yerevan with the members of their faction is scheduled,
and that he is not interested in such a meeting.

VARTABEDIAN TO EXHIBIT PHOTOS OF ARMENIA
By Paul Tennant, [email protected]

Eagle Tribune
Jan 16 2009
MA

Retired news reporter and photographer Tom Vartabedian of Haverhill
will present a photographic exhibit of his work titled "Armenian
Village People – A Country Kaleidoscope" in the ArtSpace Gallery in
Bentley Library at Northern Essex Community College on the Haverhill
campus throughout February.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A public reception is planned Feb. 12,
from 5 to 8 p.m.

The 30 color photographs, which are 10×13, are part of a collection
taken by Vartabedian during his trip to Armenia in 2006.

He paid particularly close attention to life in the outlying regions of
this historic land, whose history dates back 3,000 years. In addition
to the exhibit, Vartabedian also is working on publishing a coffee
table book of his photographs.

Vartabedian spent 40 years as a writer and photographer for the
Haverhill Gazette before retiring in 2007.

RUSSIAN GAS TRANSIT VIA GEORGIA TO ARMENIA HALTED DUE TO PIPELINE DAMAGE
by Andrew Neff

World Markets Research Markets
Global Insight
Jan 12 2009

Russian gas supplies to Armenia were halted on Friday (9 January) as a
result of damage to a section of the pipeline which crosses Georgia,
according to news reports. The Georgian Energy Ministry said that
damage to a section of the Trans-Caucasus pipeline, which carries
Russian gas across Georgia to Armenia, had occurred in the Gardabani
district, with emergency repairs underway. Russian gas giant Gazprom
suspended gas deliveries via the pipeline while Georgian officials said
repair operations would take five days to complete. Armenia relies on
Russian gas imports for all its gas needs, although Georgian Energy
Ministry officials said that the outage would have no immediate impact
on Armenia since the country has a two-month reserve of gas supplies
to draw from at the moment.

Significance: Gazprom and its Armenian joint venture, ArmRosGazprom,
offered to help Georgia repair the damage, calling for a resumption
of gas supplies to Armenia "as soon as possible." The halt in the
delivery of some 2 million cm/d of Russian gas via Georgia could
aggravate existing tensions between the two neighbours following
their brief war in August 2008, but thus far both sides are playing
down the disruption, with Georgia stating that it intends to complete
the repair work–which was originally intended to be completed in
the spring–as soon as possible. Georgia itself no longer relies on
Russian gas imports via the pipeline as its shifted its dependence to
gas imports from Azerbaijan after the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP)
was initiated in 2007, allowing for Azerbaijan to export its growing
volume of gas production from the Shah Deniz field to Georgia and
onward to Turkey.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

14 January, 2009

Hayastan All Armenian Fund opens an office in Stepanakert

The Hayastan Fund’s Acting Executive Director Ara Vardanyan and the
Executive Director of the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region Sarkis Kotanjian
are in Karabakh with a three-day working visit.

During their visit they had meetings with Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako
Sahakyan, Prime-Minister Araik Harutyunyan, Urban Development Minister
Anahit Vardanyan and discussed details of the official opening of the Fund’s
office in Stepanakert. The office will be located in the Government building
and be headed by Valeri Ghazaryan. The office will be officially opened in a
month.

Ara Vardanyan said: "A permanent office in Stepanakert will undoubtedly
ensure a more efficient project and resource management."

"It is altogether logical that an office is being established in
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It is in line with the overall strategy of the
Hayastan All Armenian Fund to always improve construction management and
quality control measures", says Sarkis Kotanjian.

The current Fund projects and upcoming activities were discussed too. The
Hayastan Fund management also visited the Stepanakert School N11
construction site.

PRESIDENT OF THE NKR MET NEWLY APPOINTED…

Azat Artsakh Daily
13 Jan 09
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 13 January President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakyan
met newly appointed commanders of some military units of the NKR
Defense Army.

Issues related to combat training of the servicemen and strengthening
defense capacity of the units were discussed at the meeting. The
supreme commander in chief note that such meetings will be of a
periodic nature. NKR defense minister Movses Hakobyan partook at
the meeting.

NEXT MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS MAY BE HELD IN DAVOS

ArmInfo
2009-01-13 11:06:00

ArmInfo. The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham
Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan may be held in Davos, Russian Co-chair of
OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told APA.

Asked whether other variants would be proposed for holding the meeting,
the co-chair said the mediators had not specified anything. As regards
the visit of the co-chairs to the region, Yuri Merzlyakov said the
date of the visit had not been fixed yet. "After the date is fixed,
it will be known whether the co-chairs will visit the region in full
composition or not," he said.

World Economic Forum will be held in Davos, Switzerland from January
29 till February 1.

Courier services in Armenia suffer losses for toughened customs control
and citizens have to forget about good tradition of receiving parcels
from abroad

2009-01-10 17:02:00

ArmInfo. Citizens of Armenia have to forget about the good tradition of
receiving parcels from relatives in abroad. Now parcel-receiving
procedures is no longer a pleasant surprise but ‘a distressful trial’.
In addition, business of courier services is suffering decline.

Executive Officer of DHL Worldwide Express Office in Armenia Emma
Beluyan told ArmInfo demand for the company’s services suffers decline
due to the compulsory requirement to deliver the cargoes imported into
the country by a courier service to the customs terminal. The number of
complains by recipients is growing at an exponential rate. She said
demand for DHL services in Armenia has fallen 10 percent recently.

Earlier, recipients were just required to pay the necessary fee for
door-to-door delivery and sign the necessary documents of the courier
to confirm the delivery. Now, signature is not enough. ‘In
compliance with amendments to the customs legislation made last year, a
courier company has a right to deliver only letters and documents to
recipients. Any other type of cargo even if it costs just $1 US dollar,
a courier is to inform the recipient of the delivery to Armenia, in
particular, to the customs terminal. Recipients are required to sign
documents informing about the delivery’, E. Beluyan
said. Afterwards a procedure begins identical to the procedure of
customs clearance with usual queue often like the confusion of Babylon.
After a recipient finally reaches its turn to receive parcel, it may
turn out that he is not enough informed of the parcel content and has
to pay certain amount, sometimes not just a symbolic amount of the
parcel value. Thus, any personal goods received by a citizen not for
commercial activity is subject to customs clearance. DHL offers broker
services to the recipients for 35,000 drams ($114) exclusive of customs
duty.