Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

"SIBIR AVIA" PLANS TO INCREASE NUMBER OF ITS FLIGHTS FROM SHIRAK AIRPORT

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Sibir Avia airline may increase the
number of its flights starting from next year – after completion of the
repairs of Gyumri’s Shirak Airport. The airline’s chief representative
to Armenia Mushegh Sayadian told reporters on October 25 that it will
become possible by replacing the 150-seat TU-154 plane, by which two
flights a week are operated to Moscow, with a smaller plane.

The head of the RA Civil Aviation Department Artyom Movsesian said
that it is also envisaged to do some repair work at Shirak Airport’s
terminal next year.

Speaking about the fate of other Armenian airports, A. Movsesian noted
that it is impossible to put into operation again Kapan Airport,
which has not functioned for a long time, because this airport is
designed for domestic flights, whose operation is not profitable. As
regards Stepanavan Airport, according to the department head, either it
should be wound up in order to use its area for some other purpose or
another option should be found. A. Movsesian said that the department
applied to the government with the request to find a final solution
to this problem.

HOW THE OWNER OF GALA POLITICIZES THE ISSUE

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 25 2007

In our yesterday’s issue we touched upon the so-called pressures on
the owner of GALA (independent information channel of Gyumry) Vahan
Khachatryan. We also promised to clarify what problems he had with tax
agencies that he decided to protect the right of Gyumry inhabitants,
to information.

Yesterday we got Vahram Barseghyan’s responses regarding these
questions, from the Public Relations Department of the State Tax
Service.

"Mr. Barseghyan, information was spread yesterday according to which
the employees of State Tax Service visited GALA TV Company Gyumry and
threatened to conduct check-ups there. And this has been introduced
as a pressure on the TV Company, by the authorities. What happened
in reality?"

"I’m familiar with those publications. I must underscore that here
we deal with a phenomenon that is practically very frequent in the
activity of our Tax Agencies, when they make attempts to shift the
tax problems of a company or a businessman to a political domain.

Now, about the case. In reality, for a long period of time the
employees of the State Tax Service have been conducting planned
check-ups in "Chap" LTD, which is the founder of GALA TV Company. The
latter, by the way, besides television activity is engaged in other
entrepreneurial activities as well and unfortunately far not honest.

We clarified due to those check-ups that beginning from 2002 "Chap"
LTD has been illegally enganaged in the unlicensed production of
"Bengalese lights", which according to RA legislation is an activity
subject to licensing.

Moreover during its activity the company has evaded taxes, something
that is criminally punishable. There are many other transgressions
connected with the activity of the same company, about which we will
tell you after the further check-ups.

As for the activity of the TV Company, I must underscore that even
before those check-ups, it came clear due to the check-ups of other
organizations that GALA TV Company has provided different types
of services to these companies without signing any agreement, thus
evading taxes.

Hence it is evident that we deal with a real transgression that has
nothing to do with politics.

"But why did the State Tax Service decide to conduct check-ups in
the TV Company?"

"As I already mentioned, the check-ups in "Chap" LTD, which is the
founder of GALA TV Company, are planned. There have been no check-ups
in the company from the day it was established (from 2000).

As for the motivation of the decision – TVs are also considered
taxpayers and they don’t have any privileges. By the way this year
we are planning to conduct check-ups in another four TV Companies.

P.S. By the way, information agency "Novosty" reported yesterday
that an explosion has occurred in the factory of "Bengalese lights"
in China, due to which 16 people died and 15 are injured.

The agency also underscored that it is not the first case, as similar
factories in China usually don’t follow safety rules and work without
license.

ARMENIAN MURDERED

A1+
[08:38 pm] 25 October, 2007

24-year-old Hovhannes Hayrumyan was murdered by a knife in
Moscow. Newsru informs that he has become the victim of football
fans. By the way, the victims of the fans were not of Russian origin.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

OCTOBER 25, 2007

PRELATE TRAVELS TO LEBANON
Archbishop Oshagan departed for Lebanon on Tuesday for the wedding of his
nephew, Antranig, son of his late brother Sarkis. During his visit to
Lebanon he will meet with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia.

VICAR WILL ATTEND LITURGY, BANQUET
AND ECUMENICAL SERVICE
Bishop Anoushavan will represent Archbishop Oshagan at the Divine Liturgy
officiated by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on
Sunday, October 28, at St. Vartan Cathedral, New York City, as well as the
banquet in honor of His Holiness at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
On Monday, October 29, the Vicar will attend an ecumenical service organized
by the Syrian Orthodox Church in honor of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin
II.

WCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET
Bishop Anoushavan participated in the two-day meeting of the Board of
Directors of the World Council of Churches (USA) October 24 and 25 in New
York.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS
Twenty Sunday School teachers will attend the National Conference for
Christian Educators this weekend in Charlton, Massachusetts, sponsored by
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Also attending will be all
of the clergy from the New England area. The theme of the conference is
"Prayer-Personal and Communal," and will feature presentations by Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and
Dr. Mary Olson.

NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
The new five-part series of Bible studies ("From Jesus’ meals with sinners
to the Lord’s Supper") began on Monday, October 16, and will continue on the
first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm, at the Prelacy.
Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC) is leading the sessions. For information and registration, send email
to [email protected] or telephone 212-689-7810.

PRESENTATION BY VIGEN GUROIAN ON NOVEMBER 16
A new series of booklets on contemporary ethical issues will be officially
introduced on Friday, November 16, 7:30 pm at the Prelacy headquarters in
New York. The series of seven booklets will be written by Vigen Guroian,
Professor of Theology at Loyola College in Maryland. Professor Guroian will
be present and will speak about the first of the series, "Homosexuality and
Same Sex Union," which was recently published. Dr. Guroian’s presentation
will be followed by Q&A, discussion and reception.
The various topics-all current issues of morality and ethics-are explored
with an Orthodox perspective. The series is a pioneering effort not only for
the Armenian Church, but for all of Orthodoxy.
For information contact the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
[email protected] or contact the Prelacy office at 212-689-7810.

ARCHPRIEST NERSES MANOOGIAN
Last Sunday, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his ordination to
the priesthood, in appreciation of his dedicated service to the Armenian
Church, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church in Philadelphia was elevated to Archpriest (Avak Kahana).

CATHOLICOS ARAM I VISITS CHURCH IN NAPLES
His Holiness Aram I paid an official visit to the Italian Catholic church
named "Saint Gregory the Armenian" in Naples, Italy, on October 22.
According to tradition, the skull of St. Gregory the Illuminator is in this
church and therefore the church and the street on which it is located are
named after St. Gregory. In 2001, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary
of the adoption of Christianity as the official religion in Armenia, Pope
John Paul II presented remnants from St. Gregory to the Catholicates of
Etchmiadzin and Cilicia.
His Holiness said prayers in the church prior to a guided tour of the church
and monastery by the sisterhood of the church. The complex is full of
artistic works depicting events in the life of St. Gregory and the Armenian
nation’s conversion to Christianity. A reception followed.
As reported last week, His Holiness, was in Naples for a conference. During
this period His Holiness met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan
Williams, the President of the German Evangelical Churches, Bishop Huber;
the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, the general secretary
of the World Council of Churches; the general secretary of the Lutheran
churches, and a number of senior officials from various denominations and
prominent government officials.

VATICAN REMAINS COMMITTED TO LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY
His Holiness Aram I announced that the Vatican remains committed more than
ever to the strengthening of the unity, independence and sovereignty of
Lebanon. The Pontiff made the statement following his lunch with His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and meeting with the Vatican’s official
secretary, His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, October 25, are: Wisdom 3:11-17; Isaiah
51:22-52:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16; John 15:11-18.
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your
joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not
call you servants’ any longer, because the servant does not know what the
master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to
you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I
chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am
giving you these commands so that you may love one another. If the world
hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:11-18)
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
.

IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
To read the message of His Holiness in Armenian click
.
To read the message of His Holiness in English click

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of this
year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit about the
Armenian language and literature:
"Originally, as in many Eastern Churches, worship in the Armenian Church was
said in the words of the bible. Worship was thought to be such a super-human
act that it had to exclude words of purely human invention. The content of
the worship was confined to the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, and Scriptural
readings. These remained the basic structural elements in Christian worship
all along the course of the later developments.
"The liturgy of the Armenian Church as outlined and established in the fifth
century was a product of this same liturgical tradition and principle. That
is the reason why even in its present elaborate form the Scriptural parts
are so dominant and rich. Thus, the Old Testament is read on all Sundays
preceding the readings of the Apostles and the Gospel. All the books are
read except Judges, 1 Chronicles, 1 and 2 Esdras, Nehemiah, Tobit, 1 and 3
Maccabees. Apart from the Psalms those which have the largest reading are
the books of Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, Job, Isaiah, and all the prophets
without exception. The New Testament is entirely read [during the liturgical
year] and the Gospels more than once a year. Holy Week and the fifty days
following Easter are those periods of the liturgical year which are marked
with an intensification of Scriptural readings."
>From a lecture delivered by Vartabed Karekin Sarkissian during a Biblical
Congress in Jerusalem in May 1962.

FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, October 28, the Armenian Church commemorates the Discovery of
the Cross (Giut Khatch). Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, was a devout
Christian. While in Jerusalem she wanted to find the True Cross. She went to
Golgotha (Calvary), which had become an obscure and neglected place. The
Empress ordered excavation of the site, and three wooden crosses were found.
In order to identify the True Cross, the three crosses were successively
placed on the body of a youth who had just died. When one of the crosses was
placed on him, the young man came to life. This cross was the True Cross.
The commemoration of this event takes place on the Sunday closest to October
26.
Christ’s exact burial site was also located and the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher was built on that spot in 335. The church was destroyed by fire in
614 when the Persians invaded Jerusalem, and subsequently rebuilt. The
current dome dates back to 1870. Three denominations (Armenian Orthodox,
Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic) administer and maintain the church and
surrounding grounds (unfortunately, not always harmoniously). Agreements
regulate times and places of worship for each denomination. Ironically, a
neutral Muslim family has been the custodian of the keys for centuries. The
Church, within the walled Old City of Jerusalem, is revered and continues to
be a popular destination for pilgrims.

"WE ALWAYS TEND TO SPEAK MUCH AND DO VERY LITTLE."
The recent events-the controversy with the ADL and its No Place for Hate
program, and the House of Representative’s Resolution on the Armenian
genocide-has generated an enormous amount of publicity. It has truly been a
treasure trove for Armenians.
In a recent interview Paul Rusesabagina, a Rwandan genocide survivor, had
this to say when asked his opinion of the House Resolution on the Armenian
Genocide: "We have to call each and anything by its name. A genocide has
been defined by the Geneva Resolution of 1952. Anyone who commits a genocide
is committing a genocide, and we should have the courage to call a genocide
by its name. So I admire the U.S. government to have taken that decision but
I would be happier if the U.S. administration goes farther than that. After
calling it a genocide we should put our words into actions. We always tend
to speak much and do very little."
Incidentally the story of Paul Rusesabagina is told in the movie Hotel
Rwanda. If you missed it, we suggest you get the DVD and watch an
exceptional and riveting movie based on true events.

OUTREACH ON LINE
The latest issue of Outreach (October 2007) is in the mail. If you would
like to read it on line click

WEEK LY CROSSROADS
A reminder that Crossroads is transmitted every week (usually Thursday
afternoon). Occasionally we receive complaints about the timely arrival of
Crossroads. Please make sure that you put the Prelacy’s email address
([email protected]) in your address book so that your computer does
not identify it as "spam" and delete it.

We also remind you that you can read current and past issues on the Prelacy’s
web site ().

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 27 to November 29-Christian Education classes at Sourp Khatch
Church in Bethesda, Maryland, 8 pm in the church sanctuary. Topic: The
Badarak. Classes held second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except
Thanksgiving week when classes will take place Friday. Armenian and English.
Prior attendance is not a requisite. For information: 301-229-8742.

October 16 to December 18-"From Jesus’ meals with sinners to the Lord’s
Supper," a five part Bible study at the Armenian Prelacy will begin on
October 16 and continue on the first and third Tuesday of the month, from
7:15 to 8:45 pm. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC). For information and registration, please
send e-mail to [email protected] or call 212-689-4481.

October 18, 19, 20-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Annual Food
Festival and Bazaar.

October 19 & 20-Annual fall fair/bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, in newly renovated Jaffarian Hall.

October 21-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, celebrating the
20th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. For information
or 215-482-9200.

October 26-28-National Conference for Christian Educators, a conference for
Sunday School teachers at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a Coptic
Orthodox Retreat Center, in Charlton, Massachusetts. Theme: "Prayer-Personal
and Communal." Presentations by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary Olson. For more information
click

Oc tober 28-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, presents The Way We Were
group in their new musical "Hello Ellis Island!’ by Hourig
Papazian-Sahagian. Immediately after Sunday services. Refreshments served.
For information 718-224-2275.

November 2-3-Golden Jubilee Annual Bazaar, St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts.

November 2-3-4-Sts. Vartanantz Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, 461 Bergen
Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.

November 7-Soorp Khatch (Bethesda, Maryland) Senior Citizens second reunion
and Thanksgiving luncheon.

November 11-37th anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley and
ordination of Nishan Dagley to the office of acolyte and stole bearer.
Presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
Prelacy.

November 11-St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachussetts, 50th anniversary
commemorative concert, 4 pm., church hall.

November 10-11-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
"Armenian Fest," at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island. For
information 401-831-6399.

November 11-Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale and Armenian Children’s
Chorus, 7th annual gala concert and dinner, Armenian Church of Our Saviour
Cultural Center. Advance tickets only. Barbara Baljian, 508-799-6972.

November 16-Introduction to the new series of booklets on Contemporary
Ethical Issues: An Armenian Orthodox Perspective, by Vigen Guroian.
Professor Guroian will speak about the series and the first booklet newly
published, "Homosexuality & Same-Sex Union." 7:30 pm at the Prelacy office
in New York City. For information [email protected] or 212-689-7810.

November 16 & 17-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Annual Bazaar. All are welcome. For information 508-852-2414.

November 17-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 43rd Anniversary
Banquet.

November 18-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Divine Liturgy
celebrated by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

November 18-Thanksgiving luncheon, Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, following the Divine Liturgy
at the Cathedral’s John Pashalian Hall. For information 212- 689-5880.

December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar. For information or 508-234-3677.

December 2-Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
Archpriest Arshag Daghlian, sponsored by the Religious Council of the
Eastern Prelacy and the Pastor and Board of Trustees of St. Stephen’s
Armenian Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 5 p.m. For information
617-924-7562.

December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
dinner dance, Marriott Hotel, Burlington. For information, (617) 924-7562.

December 9-Family Christmas Concert sponsored by St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, featuring Maggie Tune (from California) and Gaghant Baba, 4:30
pm, at IS5 High School, 50-40 Jacobus Street, Elmhurst, New York. For
information contact cathedral office, 212-689-5880.

December 23-St. Stephen’s Day Celebration, Watertown, Massachusetts. The
Golden Jubilee celebration will come to a close with a commemoration of the
church’s patron saint, the first deacon and martyr, St. Stephen.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey, and ARF Dro Gomideh, The Sheraton Meadowlands, E. Rutherford,
New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
more information click

RUSSIAN EXPERTS WILL TAKE PART IN ROUND-TABLE MEETING IN KARABAKH

KarabakhOpen
25-10-2007 16:34:17

A round-table meeting on the political situation and emergent states
in the South Caucasus will be held at the conference hall on October
27, in which Russian experts will take part.

Experts working for the Center of Strategic and Political Studies
and the Moscow representation of Rosa Luxenburg Foundation will
participate in the round-table meeting in NKR.

The group includes the president of the CSPS Vitaly Naumkin, who is
also member of BRISMES, editor of the Vostok ORIENT Journal, member
of the scientific council of the Russian Council for Security, and
has participated in the Dartmouth Conference, as well as the vice
president of the CSPS Irina Zviagelskaya, Alexander Krilov, Alexander
Skakov, head of the Caucasus department of the Russian Institute of
Strategic Studies, Valery Shageyev, expert of the CSPS.

The director of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation representation to Moscow
Peter Linke and the deputy director Vladimir Fomenko will also arrive
in Karabakh.

ALL THE VIOLENCE OF THE WORLD IN ONE PLACE

Lragir
Oct 24 2007
Armenia

A major geopolitical process is underway around the South Caucasus
which may relate to the Armenian border considering the Turkish
incursion in Iraq. Considering the reality and likely developments,
is it possible that the Turkish incursion will weaken Turkey, lead
this country into dissolution, and creation of a Kurdish state outlined
on different maps, including the territory of historical Armenia near
the Turkish and Armenian border, and is it possible that the interests
of Armenia and Turkey may overlap? Davit Hovanisyan, expert on Islam,
answered this question of Lragir.am on October 24 at the Hayeli Club.

According to him, the issue relates to the global management of
infrastructures for which different forces need preconditions, first
of all their being related to them. Davit Hovanisyan says on the other
hand the United States needs to enhance its presence in the Black Sea
basin, because if the Black Sea used to be the so-called sea of the
Warsaw pact, now most Black Sea countries are pro-NATO or NATO member
countries. "The United States is implementing a policy meant to justify
the presence of NATO and guarantee its military presence. Turkey is
now against it with all its abilities," Davit Hovanisyan says.

As to the issue of Kurdistan, Davit Hovanisyan says it is the central
issue of the 21st century. "Because it is in four countries, and
if this bomb comes off, it will cause a sweeping instability. The
alarmists think so, I do not share their opinion and I think that it
is highly difficult to consolidate the Kurdish people without for
instance the Turkish incursion in Iraq which enables consolidation
of Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkish Kurdistan," Davit Hovanisyan says.

As to Iraq, Hovanisyan thinks Iraq is a convenient territory for the
United States, Europe, Russia, where now the violence potential of
the world is centered in the face of radical Islamists and terrorist
organizations. "Apparently, the violence of the world is centered
here, and if allowed, it will spread across the world, and the
second explosion may occur in New York, the third in Moscow," Davit
Hovanisyan says.

In this context, he says, Armenia and Turkey which are neighbors
have common interests and controversies. However, there will be more
clarity regarding this issue when Armenia outlines its internal and
external priorities, Davit Hovanisyan says.

Washington Times
What a mess

October 24, 2007

Tony Blankley – With the steady decline of our selected ally Gen.
Pervez Musharraf’s ability to govern Pakistan, and the growing
alienation of the Turkish people and government from their longtime
ally, the United States, it is fair to say that from the Bosporus to
the Himalayas, American interests continue to decline, while American
policy drifts. It is ironic, if not mordant, to observe that in that
zone, our policy in Iraq stands out as holding more promise for
success than most of the other policies we are attempting. This week,
let me consider why we are losing Turkey.

The unfolding estrangement of the Turkish people (and derivatively the
Turkish governments) has been both predicted and virtually unnoticed
by Washington until last week. This tragic event needs to be
thoroughly understood by the United States and the West, because it
goes to the core of our theory of how to defeat radical Islam.

About three years ago, as then-editorial page editor of The Washington
Times, I hired as a weekly correspondent a leading Turkish
correspondent in Washington, Tulin Daloglu. She was and is a superb
student of Turkish culture and politics, a secularist, a friend and
admirer of America and a Turkish patriot. I asked her to describe each
week in her column what the Turkish people and government were
thinking, particularly about American policy and actions. I thought
more attention both in Congress and the administration was needed on
Turkish attitudes and American-Turkish policy.

I was deeply concerned that Turkish attitudes were slipping
dangerously away from us, despite Turkey being our strongest Muslim
ally in the Middle East, and the model for how Israel and the West
could establish a modus vivendi with a major Muslim-peopled country.
Turkey has been both taken for granted and ignored by Washington for
years.

In Congress, the well-organized Greek and Armenian American
communities had a stronger voice than the Turkish American. And, of
course, for historic reasons Greek Americans and Armenian Americans
usually oppose various Turkish policies. In the administration, their
peevement with Turkey not permitting our 4th Armored Division entry
through Turkey into Iraq in 2003 led to a failure to attend carefully
to a decaying relationship with our great ally. For about two years,
the State Department barely communicated in a significant way – on a
policy basis with Turkey. To read Miss Daloglu’s columns in The
Washington Times these last years is to read, week by week, the sad,
objective, chronicle of the loss of a vital ally.

In the past week, the Turks’ reaction to the congressional Armenian
genocide resolution and their threat of serious military action
against our allies the Iraqi Kurds has finally – too late – gotten
Washington’s attention. But beyond the appalling mess we have if
Turkey invades Iraq (under the U.N. resolutions we are, arguably,
obliged to defend the Kurds from the Turks – militarily), there is a
larger and still ignored lesson to be learned by the melt down in
support we have experienced from the Turkish people.

If there is one idea that Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and
liberals, share on how to fight the war on terror, it is that we need
to reach out to and win the hearts and minds of the "moderate,"
modern, peaceable more secularist Muslims – and empower them to defeat
by both persuasion and other methods the radical, violent
fundamentalists in their religion.

That would be a very, very good idea. But consider the Turkish
experience in the last six years. The Turks are the "Moderate, modern,
peaceable more secularist Muslims." Moreover our countries have been
close allies for a half a century. And Turkey has had extensive
friendly commercial relations with Israel. They are Turks, not Arabs,
and are therefore less susceptible to the emotional plight of the West
Bank Arabs under Israeli occupation.

And yet, we have lost the Turks almost as badly as we have lost the
most angry religious, fundamentalist Arab, Muslims. If we can’t keep a
fair share of their friendly attitude, how do we expect to win the
much-vaunted and -awaited hearts and mind campaign?

While I hardly have the answers to that question, one lesson can be
learned from the Turkish debacle (or near debacle): While we cozied up
to their arch threat – the Iraqi Kurds – we kept telling them not to
worry and trust us. We did little to allay their fears that the Iraqi
Kurds were giving the PKK terrorists succor and sanctuary in Iraq. We
didn’t pressure our allies the Iraqi Kurds to pressure the PKK.

In the future, we are going to have to earn each ounce of friendly
relations based on what we actually do for the object of our desire.
Good intentions and common visions of the future are not likely to be
readily available.

Tony Blankley is executive vice president for global public affairs at
Edelman International. He is also a visiting senior fellow at the
Heritage Foundation.

Source: ITORIAL01/110240006

PLAYGROUND IN SARI LANJ

KarabakhOpen
23-10-2007 10:55:15

The children of the district of Sari Lanj in Stepanakert got a gift
playground yesterday. The playground was built in the framework of
the Happy Baby festival of Stepanakert Foundation and was financed
by the City Hall of Stepanakert.

According to the director of the Foundation Naira Petrosyan, last
year a number of organizations responded to the appeal of the Happy
Baby. This year over a dozen playgrounds were built.

The former and the present mayor participated in the ceremony of
opening.

The ex-mayor Edward Aghabekyan handed out the relay race to Vazgen
Mikayelyan.

IRAN’S AHMADINEJAD CUTS VISIT TO ARMENIA SHORT

Forbes, NY
Oct 23 2007

YEREVAN, Armenia (Thomson Financial) – Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has cut short a two-day visit to Armenia due to the
domestic political situation and key talks on the Iranian nuclear
issue in Rome, a diplomatic source here told Agence France-Presse,
the French news agency.

‘He shortened his visit and is returning to Iran because of the
internal political situation in the country,’ the source said. ‘Also
this is linked with the discussion of the question of Iran which is
happening today in Rome.’

‘Today we are expecting strong criticism addressed to Iran.’

Iran’s new nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, left Tehran for Rome
today to hold his first talks over the atomic crisis with EU foreign
policy chief Javier Solana.

Jalili, a hardliner close to Ahmadinejad, was accompanied by his
predecessor Ali Larijani, the ISNA news agency reported.

The presence of Larijani, who quit on Saturday after falling out with
Ahmadinejad over the handling of Iran’s nuclear policy, has raised
eyebrows among observers.

Larijani is officially attending as the representative of Iran’s
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the Supreme National Security
Council, a position he retained after his resignation.

The Armenian presidential administration had previously announced that
Ahmadinejad would visit today a memorial to victims of the Ottoman
massacres of Armenians between 1915 and 1917, a regular stop for
visiting dignitaries.

He had also been scheduled to visit Yerevan’s Blue Mosque and to meet
with members of the Iranian community here.

Armenian presidential spokesman Viktor Sogomonian said Ahmadinejad
had returned to Tehran ‘for urgent reasons’ but did not elaborate.

‘During meetings yesterday both presidents agreed that the president
of Iran would go back to Iran earlier than expected for urgent
reasons. The early end of the visit won’t affect Armenian-Iranian
relations,’ Sogomonian said.

Ahmadinejad’s senior advisor Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi denied the visit
had been cut short, saying ‘the Iranian delegation is returning to
Tehran at the planned time.’

‘All of the Iranian president’s programme was realized as planned
during the visit to Armenia,’ he said.

PARLIAMENTARY MINORITY TRIES TO BOYCOTT SESSION OF RA NA, MONDAY

ArmInfo
2007-10-22 22:50:00

Parliamentary minority, "Heritage" faction in particular, made
an attempt to frustrate regular session of the Armenian National
Assembly, Monday.

To note, the session started at 12:00, and the agenda of the National
Assembly’s four-day session was approved only at 5:00pm. "Orinats
Yerkir" faction twice took 20-minute breaks before the ballot. After
that "Heritage" faction also availed itself the same right, taking
20-minute breaks thrice before the ballot, which was on the session’s
agenda. In this way, they tried to boycott the National Assembly’s
session. For his part, Leader of Republican Party Karen Karapetyan
also asked for a 20-minute break before the ballot. Before the adoption
of the last law "On investigative-search activity" "Heritage" faction
took a 20-minute break for the fourth time.

In answer to journalists’ question, if the opposition tries to
boycott the National Assembly’s work, Speaker of the Armenian National
Assembly Tigran Torosyan said he had never given such generalizing
assessments either to the opposition or to the authority. "Simply,
there is the feeling that some people came to the NA not to carry
out legislative activity but to play childish games. This is the
whole reality". However, according to T. Torosyan, there is nothing
awful, as the opposition has behaved in this way before, too, but
then everything went all right.

For his part, Secretary of the Republican Party Samvel Nikoyan told
ArmInfo correspondent that the opposition makes efforts to reduce
efficiency and productivity of the National Assembly, commenting on
the conduct of the opposition minority. Moreover, according to the
Deputy, the oppositionists lose their reputation and trust both among
mass media representatives and among the nation.