Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

Religious leaders, US congressmen gather at iftar

Today’s Zaman
21.09.2007
News

ALÝ H. ASLAN

The Rumi Forum, a Washington-based organization working to foster
interfaith and intercultural dialogue and whose honorary president is
Fethullah Gülen, for the second consecutive year brought together a
number of distinguished speakers and invitees for an iftar dinner.

The iftar — the evening fast-breaking meal in the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan — was organized under the auspices of 21 US congressmen,
and five members of the US Congress were among its guests. The keynote
speaker was Professor Ekmeleddin Ýhsanoðlu, secretary general of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Ýstanbul’s Armenian
Patriarch Mesrob II (Mutafyan) and US Greek Orthodox Archbishop
Demetrios were guests of honor at the event.

Congressman Rush Holt, speaking to Today’s Zaman, said: "Here in
Congress, in this room where we stand, there is much talk everyday but
very seldom real dialogue. Tonight, with the Greek Orthodox, the
Armenian, the followers of Rumi, the society of Jesus, the Jesuits,
the Protestants, Catholics and variety of Muslims, this has been a
remarkable evening of dialogue."

The host of the program was Brenda Bearden, an instructor at
Georgetown University. The event was organized at the Cannon Caucus,
one of the most prestigious rooms in Congress.

The event started with a prayer from the chaplain of the House of
Representatives Reverend Daniel Coughlin, followed by the Muslim
evening prayer, which was broadcast on a screen with English
subtitles. The participants started off eating dates, in line with the
Muslim tradition for breaking the daily fast.

The guests showed great interest in the video clip for the "Song of
Brotherhood," sung by Turkish folk artist Mahsun Kýrmýzýgül and shot
in the southeastern city of Mardin. A group of Afghan performers sang
songs with lyrics from 13th century Sufi Saint Mevlana Muhammed
Jelaluddin Rumi, the founder of the Mevlevi Sufi order. Works of a
Turkish ebru (paper marbling) artist were on display on the Congress
halls.

Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (Maryland), Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum
(Minnesota), Nita Lowey (New York) and Holt (New Jersey) attended the
dinner while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was represented by her
assistant Mercedes Salem.

Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nabi Þensoy, Egyptian Ambassador
Nabil Fahmy, Eritrean Ambassador Ghirmai Ghebremariam and Mauritian
Ambassador Kailash Ruhee, as well as diplomats from the Israeli,
Indian, Ukrainian and Singapore missions in the US, attended the
iftar. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Suat
Kýnýkloðlu, Yeni Þafak columnist Fehmi Koru and Radikal columnist
Murat Yetkin were among the guests from Turkey.

All speakers at the dinner emphasized the importance of dialogue.
Keith Ellison, the first Muslim US Congressman, began his remarks with
the Muslim greeting "Assalamu alaykum."

Congressman Wayne Gilchrest said mothers in Iraq wept as much as
American mothers after their sons were killed in war, and continued,
"The enemy of mankind is ignorance, arrogance and dogma."

Ýhsanoðlu pointed out that Islam was not a religion of violence and
expressed concern about the rising sentiment of Islamophobia around
the globe. "Extremists exist in all religious traditions. Sometimes
extremists have spoken on behalf of Islam," he stated.

Thomas Michel, a Vatican representative for interfaith dialogue,
praised Gülen, whose religious community opens centers of dialogue
across the world. "For Gülen, Rumi represents true faith of Islam," he
told the audience.

Archbishop Demetrios also expressed respect for Gülen. His speech
focused on the state of human relations in our day. "While technology
goes that far, where is the iPhone of human relations? As religious
leaders, we have to compete with technology and produce the device of
human connective-ness and love," he told the guests.

Patriarch Mesrob II criticized those who pick apart religion as the
cause of most conflicts in the world and said religions only teach
love. "I wish my Muslim brothers and sisters on this holy evening
blessings for the feast of Ramadan," he said, expressing goodwill
toward fasters around the world.

Joshua O. Haberman, Rabbi Emeritus of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation, said all believers were united in worshipping the same
God, as Islam, Judaism and Christianity were from the "same religious
illumination which began with Abraham.

21.09.2007
News

ALÝ H. ASLAN

Source: =detay&link=122750

ArmeniaNow.com, Armenia

Essay: Late night lessons in fear

Opinion by Vahan Ishkhanyan

Four interrogate one. This is not a Customs service, where a
suspicious passenger is asked questions; neither is it a police
department. This the `Late in the Night’ program at Armenia TV that
would more fit to be called `Late Inquisition’. Two journalists, a
clergyman and the fourth a nationalist I don’t know, interrogate a
Buddhist. A discussion in its form, the program holds no discussion,
but questioning and charges. Gagik and Nelli are journalists, but
there appear no intentions to investigate or inform – only to accuse
and intimidate.

The nationalist says: `Any sect is an enemy to our state and people.’
Asked if the program’s guest is `his enemy’, the nationalist answers
`Of course.’

Armenia TV seems to side with KGB methods for its `talk show’

The guest, Artashes Gazaryan, is a Buddhist, one of only about four or
five in Armenia. He has created a website () to inform
others of his religion. Among other information, the site contains
information about the possibility of inviting a Buddhist teacher to
lecture.

The KGB, through the face of Armenia TV, discovered the website and
tricked Gazaryan to appear. Rather than a discussion of Buddhist
belief, Gazaryan was asked: `Are you baptized?’, `How were you married
if you are not a Christian?’ `What means did you use to get to
Thailand?’ and string of other questions apparently aimed at
collecting information for building a case against him that would
inflame other nationalists.

His inquisitors implied that Gazaryan’s parents had failed in their
religious duty, by raising a son to become something other than
Armenian Apostolic Christian.

I watch and am reminded that the KGB used to interrogate dissidents
about how they got `anti-Soviet’ literature, whom they gave the books
to read, why they read `different’ books or held `different’ beliefs.

Fearful of the KGB, people were even afraid of thinking in Stalin
times, but at least the Soviet state provided its suspects a formal
defense attorney. The TV version National Security Service puppets of
`Late in the Night’ attacked un-resisted.

The interrogation ends up with accusatory conclusions in which on
nationalist lectures that `plurality of beliefs leads to the
deterioration of the state and is called high treason’.

Gazaryan humbly answers all the questions telling that he has used his
own means to get to Thailand, trying to turn the questioning into a
discussion, to do what he was invited for: `Let’s view it from another
point: what defines one’s belief and why does a person find a
different religion or other postulates?’

Gagik has none of it, and suggests that religious cults in Armenia buy
belief with promises of rice and butter.

The hosts grill the Buddhist about how he could afford to travel to
Thailand and I watch thinking that those interested in other people’s
income would ask the same questions posed by the network to state
officials who wear $5,000 suits, travel to Monte Carlo casinos and are
then appear before these same journalists in flattering interviews
with soft and irrelevant questions.

May be the Buddhist is a good occasion to appear as a tough journalist
and to compensate for the flattery he manifests to the officials like
the man who revenges for outside humiliation by beating his
defenseless wife at home.

Gazaryan tries to squeeze in a point about free speech. `A man meets
another man. They talk in the kitchen. That frequently happens. How
will you be regulating the conversation, what the people think and how
come they think in different ways?’

Nelli responds with disparage: `That’s called European values,
globalization’ – suggesting apparently that globalization and European
values are the same thing and, as it seems, are at odds with being
Armenian. One can conclude from her definition that thinking means not
being Armenian. And if she succeeds in her efforts to keep Armenian
identity by that means then people willing to think will stop being
Armenian. And I believe there will be lots of such people.

Nelli begins defining a criminal punishment for those who think: `How
are going to announce the lectures [of the invited teacher]? You are
not a registered organization, are you? If you agitate for it, spread
information about the lecture then that will be interpreted as an act
prosecuted by the criminal law.’

If I didn’t see Nelli, I would think she is a woman at least beyond
60, who has been closed up in a basement for the last 20 years of her
life unaware of the Soviet Union’s demise. Her understanding of what
is criminally prosecuted comes from the Soviet times, when anti-Soviet
agitation and propaganda were criminally prosecuted and even tougher
when an unregistered organization was created for that purposes.

Meanwhile Father Ghevond confuses everything – ascribing Bhagavad-Gita
and the institute of gurus to Buddhism. Artashes asks not to confuse
religions and explains that Buddhism is not a sect, but one of the
three major religions of the world. But Father Ghevond is not
interested in the difference of religions, just the number of his
congregation and says everybody, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and
Artashes, are his lost sheep. (The `sheep’, one might argue, are the
source of income for the Father; he sanctifies homes, baptizes,
provides burial services, sacrifices, that are all sources of income
and when `sheep’ are lost, incomes drop . . .)

Artashes calls for religious tolerance.

But with tolerance plurality flourishes and competition of
beliefs. And believers who distinguish Bhagavad-Gita from Buddhism
will have the opportunity to freely demonstrate. As long as there is a
single control, the priest, the journalists and the nationalist remain
united. And safe. Sound familiar?

The nationalist criticizes the authorities of the Apostolic Church for
not fighting properly against sects and refers to the former
Catholicos: `I don’t think any sectarian would organize any activity
like that in Vazgen’s times [Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I in
1955-1994].’ Father Ghevond replies: `They did – under the supervision
of the KGB.’ So, it appears that the supervision of the KGB is
lacking. Armenia TV fills the gap setting supervision under the name
of the program.

And Armenia TV is not the only one in setting KGB-style supervision. I
recently heard the former minister of culture Hakob Movses stating on
Shoghakat TV: `Sects are traitors of the nation. They are considered
traitors also in Germany as well.’ He is confident – no German will
hear him and respond saying `Don’t lie and don’t try to get fascism
back we have got rid of at the cost of significant deprivations and
shame.’ While Armenians do not reply and let the lessons of fascism
the Germans and Europe have passed be repeated here [in Armenia]. And
so, frequently lies and slander against religious organizations are
spread on air. And violence never comes late.

Shoghakat TV belongs to the Apostolic Church and its attempts to
create monopoly in the religious field by defaming competing
organizations are understandable. Less clear, though, is why Armenia
TV, whose shareholders include American Armenian Gerard Cafesjian,
whose money was earned in a free country, allows itself to be used
against freedom in Armenia.

I visited the website today. There was a new text
added there on a red background – the symbol of fear: `The authors of
this site do not intend to convince people in their truthfulness, the
more so to create a religious organization’, and so on. In a word, a
feeling of threat, fear. Nelli in her basement, the priest protected
by the state, and the nationalist and his faulty allegiance have
reached their aim. And more importantly, the aim of those who put
questions in their mouths.

Azeri Press Agency

Co-chair of International Working Group Bernhard Clasen: We should try
POWs not to seek asylum in third countries

[ 20 Sep 2007 15:57 ]

Co-chair of the International Working Group Bernhard Clasen
interviewed by APA

International Working Group for release of prisoners and hostages and
tracing of missing persons of the Karabakh conflict was registered as
a non-commercial NGO in Muenchengladbach court in Germany on August
18, 2000. The group works on the release of hostages and missing
persons in the framework of cooperation with government bodies, NGOs,
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and OSCE. Members of
the International Working Group visit the POWs in the conflict
zone. One of the main targets of the group is to work with former
prisoners of war and offer assistance to them after they are released.
Bernhard Clasen (Germany), Paata Zakareishvili (Georgia) and Svetlana
Gannushkina (Russia) are the co-chairs of the International Working
Group.

– Mr. Clasen, two Armenians – prisoner of war Ambarsum
Ashaturyan and civilian Valeri Suleymanyan are held
captive in Azerbaijan. Have their parents appealed to
the International Working Group to help release them?
– We have not had direct contact with the relations of
these persons. But we do not expect parents’ appeals.
We start searching as soon as fact on missing is
known. Our coordinators have good relations with
Armenian state bodies. Of course we have information
about the state of Azerbaijani POWs, as well.
– Can the International Working Group help hand over
the POWs to a third country?
– Unfortunately, a prisoner of war feels danger in his
motherland. Therefore, the POW may choose a hard way,
he can seek asylum in a third country. We should try
to prevent such cases in future. We should understand
what moral and psychological difficulties a POW faces.
We respect POWs’ decisions. They know that in case
they return to their motherland, they will have to
stand trial. They know that most of the Azerbaijanis,
who returned to home, were sentenced. I want to note
that our group does not deal with handing over the
POWs to a third country. This is in the competence of
UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
– Will the International Working Group work on the
release of Azerbaijani prisoners freed from Armenian
captivity? Do you have the list of Armenian prisoners
freed from Azerbaijani captivity?
– We concern ourselves with the imprisoned Azerbaijani
POWs. International Working Group twice appealed to
Azerbaijani government for pardoning these persons.
But they have not been released yet. We understand
that people distrust former POWs. I speak very openly
about the state of former Azeri POWs in German, lots
of politicians and leaders of civil society
associations are aware of their fate. I want former
POWs to be more protected and supported.
– Your list shows that some of Azeri POWs are charged
with criminal acts, raping, adultery during captivity.
How do you think the community will agree with the
release of people charged with the mentioned articles?
– They are just two or three charged with those
articles. We do not call Azerbaijani government to
release people committed crimes. In such cases we call
for justice and open court so that these people could
defend their positions.
– At what level are relations between International
Working Group and State Commission on Prisoners of War
(POW), Hostages and Missing Persons of Azerbaijan?
– Our relations with state committee for POWs,
hostages and missing persons of Azerbaijan regarding
arrest of former militants got worse. We do not have
continuous relations with Armenian state committee,
but our coordinators cooperate with state committees
for POWs, hostages and missing persons in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh and have great experience in finding
missing persons.
– At what stage is the establishment of mixed
commission of the sides of Nagorno Karabakh conflict?
– There is no progress in this area. Azerbaijani State
Committee for POWs, hostages and missing persons works
very hard but it is not ready for cooperation covering
humanitarian issues because of political reasons.
Armenian side does not want the mixed commission to be
established because of technical reasons./APA/

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REGISTERS THE SUGGESTIONS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES IN THE REPORT ON TURKEY

armradio.am
19.09.2007 17:55

The Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament registered
the suggestions of the Committee members to implement changes in the
recurrent report on Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

Chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation Hilda Tchoboyan told
Armenpress that the Committee registered eight suggestions of the
Federation, as well.

"The changes we suggest mostly refer to the isolation of Armenia
by Turkey, the Armenian Genocide, the domestic situation in Turkey
connected with hatred towards foreigners, especially the anti-Armenian
moods," Hilda Tchoboyan said. She added that the voting day will be
determined after the suggestions are discussed.

The European Armenian Federation informs that a number of members of
the European Parliament spoke for inclusion of the Armenian Genocide
issue in the recurrent resolution on Turkey’s accession to the EU,
including member of the People’s Party of Europe Charles Tennock,
members of the French Socialist Party Marie Arlett Rore and Harlem
Desir, and others.

It should be mentioned that the recurrent report on Turkey includes
no reference to the Armenian Issue. During the first discussion of the
draft on September 13 a number of members of the Committee pointed to
the faultiness of the report. In particular, Belgian MP Philip Claeys
noted: "The recurrent report on the process of Turley’s accession to
the European Union must certainly refer to the Armenian Genocide."

TURKISH LOBBY IN U.S. STRENGTHENS EFFORTS AGAINST ARMENIAN AND KURDISH ISSUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.09.2007 18:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Washington has increasingly been turning a blind
eye to the red lines of Turkish foreign policy, pro-Turkish lobbies
are looking for ways to strengthen their position in the United States.

The American Turkish Society (ATS), one of the leading Turkish
lobbies in the U.S., asked key businessmen to become members on its
board. Muhtar Kent, the president and chief operating officer of The
Coca-Cola Company, Murat Megalli, JP Morgan Turkey director and Haluk
Dincer, president of the Food and Retailing Group joined the ATS. With
its new members the ATS is targeting to become more effective in
better promoting Turkish-U.S. relations. After Ahmet Ertegun, the
founder of Atlantic Records and also long time president of the ATS
passed away last year many were concerned that the Turkish community
in the U.S. had lost an important voice. Ertegun successfully brought
American and Turkish businessmen and politicians together and almost
served as an unofficial ambassador for well over 20 years. Kent was
one of the names being mentioned behind the scenes to take Ertegun’s
place to promote Turkish-American relations.

Muhtar Kent’s good relations with the Jewish community is accepted
as an important asset for the Turkish lobbies. Especially after
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) acknowledged the Armenian Genocide
in August.

Although the ADL’s statement reaffirmed that the legislation pending in
Congress to recognize the genocide is "a counterproductive diversion"
it created some concern in Ankara.

Many Democrats think that those concerns are valid.

Off the record some Democrats say that the Armenian Genocide Resolution
will for sure pass sometime this fall.

Political observers believe that as well as the Armenian Genocide
issue, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is another problem
that Washington and Ankara should find common ground on.

Sources close to Democrats say a process is underway to prepare a
report on the PKK.

However, many think that a report of this nature will be a bitter pill
to swallow for Ankara. It will need a strong lobby in Washington in the
meantime. Kent is seen as an important player in this picture. However
it is still a question mark if Kent’s busy schedule will allow him
to play the role expected of him, Turkish Daily News reports.

GOVERNMENT’S DECISION IS OF NO USE

A1+
[01:42 pm] 18 September, 2007

The residents of many multi-floored houses in the capital climb
the stairs in darkness with fear until they reach their homes. The
elevators are out of order and "are waiting for" the money collected
from the residents.

Although the Government has allocated money for the repair of
elevators, in many communities money is collected from the residents
for repairing the engines of elevators. It turned out that the decision
of the Government adopted a week ago "is left out of account". Arayik
Minasyan, director of "Nor Nork Verelak" company informed "A1+" that
communities pay only 60% for the repair of the elevator, while the
residents pay 40%.

"We always say the amount of the money to be collected from the
residents. But in some cases other expenses also emerge and we have
to collected more money", Arayik Minasyan commented on the money
collected from citizens.

About 3 milliard drams is allocated by the Government for the repair
of elevators. There about 4865 elevators in Yerevan, 2464 of them need
fixing, 38 elevators are to be replaced by new ones. Gagik Khachatryan,
head of Yerevan Municipal Utility Department said that elevators’
repair parts needed for their safe exploiting would be imported from
abroad, while other parts were made in Armenia at "Mars" factory. The
Municipality representative ensures that after repair we will have
modern and safe elevators. He also ensures that the amount of money
for services will not rise.

Those who are responsible for the repair of elevators took into
account the fact that some parts may be stolen. "We have taken certain
preventative measures so that the citizens will be unable to spoil
the elevators", said Gagik Khachatryan and expressed hope that the
residents should treat the elevators as their properties. If some
elevators of the city are spoiled until the repair works start,
then the "unfortunate" residents will have to pay the 40% of the money.

All elevators of Yerevan city will be fixed by next year.

GUARANTOR OF FAIR ELECTIONS ONLY DASHNAKSUTIUN?

Panorama.am
14:39 15/09/2007

The eleventh Supreme Assembly of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaksutiun) kicked off in Nagorno Karabakh (NKR) town of Shushy
yesterday with the presence of NKR President Bako Sahakyan, Chairman
of National People’s Union (AJM) Vazgen Manukyan and Deputy Chairman of
Armenian Republican Party (HHK) Galust Sahakyan. Bako Sahakyan welcomed
the initiative to hold Dashnaksutiun Supreme Assembly in Shushy also
appreciating the role of Dashnaksutiun in the liberation of Karabakh,
during peace talks and on the way to recognition of Karabakh.

Hrant Margaryan, representative of Dashnaksutiun bureau said
Dashnaksutiun has been prescribed "negative manifestations" of the
authorities in power, however, he believes people have understood
that they are next to the authorities only for the sake of "Karabakh,
Armenian -Turkish relations and recognition of the Genocide."

"We did not become "the same" with the authorities in terms of
injustice and we have submitted our alternative opinion," he said
also saying they failed to protect fairness of the elections and are
responsible for that. In his words, Dashnaksutiun must become stronger
to be able to compel fair elections saying only Dashnaksutiun can
safeguard fair elections.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM I

Prior to the visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard
Kouchner, His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of France André Paran
yesterday evening. The Catholicos and the Ambassador mainly discussed the
possibilities of bringing Lebanon out of its current stalemate and holding
presidential elections in normal circumstances.

The Pontiff explained his viewpoints to the French diplomat, stressing the
imperative of holding presidential elections, the importance for all sides
to agree on a common candidate, the formation of a national unity government
after the elections and the resumption of national dialogue with the
participation of all sides. He emphasized the need to develop a pan-Lebanese
strategy.

The Armenian Spiritual Leader also talked about the role of the Armenian
community. He underlined that the community is not and can not be in the
position of a passive observer or follower; it is rather an active
participant. He also observed that the Armenian community is not opposed to
any side and has not become identified with any side either. He added that
the community has always been in dialogue with all the sides through a
balanced approach and for the sake of the unity, integrity and sovereignty
of Lebanon.

The Ambassador informed His Holiness of the efforts carried out by France in
Lebanon and abroad pertaining to the presidential election, emphasizing the
importance of holding this election.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos33.htm#3
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

KAMAL ABDULLA: THE DATE OF INTELLECTUALS’ VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET

Azeri Press Agency,
[ 12 Sep 2007 12:23 ]

"The date of intellectuals’ visit to Nagorno Karabakh has not been
fixed yet. Karabakh problem is always important for us, but the
intellectuals’ visit is not expected in the nearest future," rector
of Baku Slavic University, one of the intellectuals’ who visited
Nagorno Karabakh Kamal Abdulla told APA.

"If I am told to go to the front, I will go there," he said.

Kamal Abdulla said their visit was the first step, an effort to
restore the relations.

A group of Azeri intellectuals from Shusha – Polad Bulbuloglu, Farhad
Badalbayli, Kamal Abdulla, Azerpasha Nematov and Ilhami Fataliyev
visited Shusha and Khankandi on June 28 and met with Arkadi Gukasyan
and Robert Kocharian.

ARMENIAN CB REVISES TERMS OF CONTEST FOR SELECTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL AUDITORY COMPANY FOR AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2007

ArmInfo
2007-09-11 11:24:00

Armenian Central Bank revises the terms of its open contest for
selection of an international auditory company for audit of its
financial reports for 2007. Armenian Central Bank press-service told
ArmInfo that the deadline for applications is September 20 2007 at
5:00 instead of September 7 as it was reported earlier. The bids
will be considered starting from September 24 at 5:00 pm instead
of September 10 as it was envisaged before. The final session for
summary of the contest results is scheduled for September 28 at 5:00
pm instead of September 17 as it was envisaged before. The bids are
submitted to the Central Bank.

The source reports that contest participants must meet the contest
requirements. The bids may imply up to three years of cooperation. If
a bid provides for more than one year of cooperation, the financial
conditions must be presented in details.

To recap, Grant Thornton Amyot (GTA) audited the financial report of
the Armenian CB for 2004 and 2005, KPMG-Armenia audited the report
for 2006.