Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

PRESIDENT SIGNIFIES SMOOTH RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS

Panorama.am
20:20 21/07/2008

Armenia will not be acting as a fourth side in the relationship
of USA-Iran-Israel, announced President Serzh Sargsyan, in a press
conference today. "I don’t think that this is a point when Armenia
should act as an intercessor," said S. Sargsyan.

He said that America has been a relative country for Armenia; we
have hundreds of years’ relationship experience with Iran and that
we share great tragedy with Israel, moreover we have large Armenian
communities in these countries, it is not in the interests of Armenia
that these countries start any military activities against each other.

As for the relationship with other countries, the President notified
the importance of developing relationship with Georgia, as well as
with US and Russia.

BEMOANING THE CITY THAT WAS

The Daily Star
July 21 2008
Bangladesh

Photo exhibition highlighting Old Dhaka architecture
Karim Waheed

To mark the 400th anniversary of Dhaka as a capital city, several
organisations and institutions have chalk out special programmes. An
ongoing photo exhibition, sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited, at Drik Gallery features the
architectural heritage of Old Dhaka, minute details of designs and
festivals that are an indelible part of Dhaka life.

Most of the photographs at the exhibition are by Babu Ahmed. Ahmed
started his career as a photojournalist in 1988 and has worked for
major national dailies. His previous exhibitions include "Glimpses
of Bangladeshi Heritage" at Drik Gallery (2002), "Mughal Monuments
of Bangladesh" at Institute of Fine Arts (2003), "100 Temples
of Bangladesh" at Bengal Gallery (2004), "Selected Monuments of
Bangladesh" (2005) and "Islamic Heritage of the Ganges Delta" at the
Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin (also in 2005).

Ahmed’s photographs highlight the Mughal influence in Dhaka
architecture; exquisitely ornate Hindu temples; lavishly decorated
villas and abodes of the zamindars and merchants — local and from
overseas; churches, cemeteries and mausoleums that flaunt a hybrid
style and more. The underlining message that comes across is the
muffled wails of an overly burdened city losing its essence.

Ahmed’s collection of photos features the oldest Church (1677) in
Dhaka (Tejgaon) that showcases a brilliant amalgamation of Hindu,
Christian and Muslim styles. The collection also includes a photo of
a crumbling mausoleum — of one Colombo Saheb (1800), an East India
Company official. The structure follows the typical Mughal style.

The memorial (1900) in honour of a Greek merchant, living in
Narayanganj, still stands at TSC, Dhaka University but the beautifully
ornate house (1890) of Manik Babu (an affluent local merchant) in
Old Dhaka does not exist any more.

The Armenian Church that marked the existence of a once thriving
community does not cease to impress but it has been painted over
without much consideration repeatedly. The 150-year-old (app.) Ruplal
House has lost much of its magnificence, now it’s being choked by
inconsiderate new constructions surrounding it.

And so it goes. Life goes on. A city gradually loses its soul.

The exhibition also includes reproductions of sketches of early
19th century Dhaka, by Charles D’Oyley (from the collection titled
Antiquities of Dacca).

D’Oyley was the collector of Dhaka between 1808 and 1811. He made
quite a few drawings and decided to publish them in the form of folios.

One sketch features the remains of a bridge near Tantee Bazar. Another
shows Bara Kuttra.

The exhibition also includes a few frames by Munem Wasif who
has recently garnered international acclaim for his "Old Dhaka"
series. Munem’s photos feature festivities that have become part of
Dhaka’s identity — celebration Dhaka style. "Qurbani Eid", "Durga
Puja", "Rong Khela" in Old Dhaka and processions of impassioned
Shiites on "Muharram".

Photos from the Urban Study Group (formed by a group of architects)
that focuses on the need to preserve the architectural heritage of
Dhaka, feature details of designs.

The display, though informative, could have included works of more
photographers, considering "400 Years of Dhaka" is a theme on a grand
scale. More points of views and angles would have been nicer.

OKTAY EKSI:TURKEY, ARMENIA TALKS MUST BE WITHOUT PRE-CONDITION

Hurriyet
July 18 2008
Turkey

According to a news report in Hurriyet daily on Friday, Turkey and
Armenia have been secretly negotiating in Switzerland. We wish this
process all the best.

Though some basic information is missing in the news; for example,
the aim and the scope of the negotiations are not known.

But, generally it can be estimated that the issues will aim at
boosting ties between the two countries. The subject of any talks is
likely to focus on opening the border closed by Turkey for 14 years,
lifting the economic embargo implemented by Turkey, kicking off the
diplomatic relations between two countries and, legalizing the nearly
60,000 Armenian citizens that the Turkish government has been tolerant
to allow to live in Turkey illegally until now.

In fact, it is not secret that Armenia desires to "normalize"
relations and that the United States suggests -even pressures- Turkey
on this issue.

The possibility of stepping up these moves had increased after the
election of Serge Sargsyan as Armenian president in February 2008. It
was expected that this new president would have more pigeon politics
compared to the former president, Robert Kocharian, who was the
spokesman for the hawkish side of Armenian politics.

Though it is also known that Sargsyan, who was serving as prime
minister during Kocharian’s presidency, had not shown restraint when
speaking about Turkey in an interview he gave in the United States
on Oct 27, 2007. For example, he made the following remark in the
interview:

"It can not be expected for us to live in peace as long as our
neighboring country stands beside us not approving genocide. They
(Turks) are not only denying the genocide, but the also keep the
Armenian border closed. This is why we have a neighbor that does not
accept civilized and normal relations. We have not chosen the land
we are living on willingly. We are aware that we had lived there (in
Turkey) for thousands years. And we are also aware of the necessity
of living there for thousands of years to come. But, our neighbors
should also understand this… The genocide took place in West Armenia,
which is now part of Turkish territory… Those people were forced
to leave their land due to genocide."

You would not make a major issue out of these statements were the
only subject of the affair. But, in the "Independency Declaration"
dated Aug 23, 1990, Armenia says, "The Armenian Republic, with the
approval of the international community, takes as its mission the
genocide carried out in Turkey during the time of the Ottoman Empire
and in West Armenia."

We are talking about a neighboring country that has on its national
flag, the image of Turkey’s Mount Ararat, in other words, a country
that is obviously eyeing lands belonging to the Turkish Republic.

It is also the same neighbor that on the one hand, refuses to
officially say it accepts the accord determining the borders between
Turkey and Armenia, while on the other, implies that, "It puts no
pre-conditions on the table for talks to form normal and civilized
relations with Turkey."

EDITORIAL — POWERFUL STAND

Duxbury Reporter
July 18 2008
MA

Duxbury –
In a way, it’s hard to believe hatred still exists in our society.

After all, slavery ended after the Civil War, more than 140 years
ago. The military was officially fully integrated in the 1940s. The
Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964. Our last two secretaries of state
have been black, and a black man is governor of this very state. Yet
another could be president of the United States as early as January,
and to get his party’s nomination, he had to beat a woman.

But hatred does exist. What is it going to take to pick that lock and
make us realize that while people have their own virtues and flaws,
they have nothing to do with race, color, ethnicity, religion or
sexual orientation?

In all likelihood, the solution will have to involve education, and
that’s where Duxbury Interfaith Council and the No Place for Hate
program in the town come in. In interfaith council co-chairman Harry
Katz says, its goal is to "provide the community with a frame for
fighting all forms of hate and bigotry, while increasing awareness
for all individuals and we want to implement a meaningful program that
aims to unite neighbors and challenge racism and bigotry of all forms."

Not that No Place for Hate hasn’t been immune to criticism, as its
parent organization, the Anti-Defamation League, has come under
scrutiny for not acting forcefully enough against the Armenian
Genocide.

However, the fight against hate is an important one, and regardless
of what organization it allies itself with, the Duxbury Interfaith
Council should be saluted for the part it is playing.

A MONITORING CONDUCTED

Azat Artsakh Daily,
16 July 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On July 16, in accordance with the earlier achieved agreement with the
NKR authorities the OSCE mission conducted an off-schedule monitoring
of the contact-line of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces
near the settlement of Yusifjanlu, the NKR Aghdam region. From the
positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted
by Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Peter Kee (Great Britain) Antal Herdich (Hungary)
and Irzhi Aberle (Czech Republic).

Despite the preliminary agreement, Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk did not participate
in the monitoring from the Azerbaijani side. No violation of
cease-fire regime was registered. At that, the NKR MFA representative,
accompanying the OSCE mission, directed the monitoring group members’
attention to the discrepancy of the Azerbaijani side’s reports on
the fire allegedly set by the Armenian side to the territory, where
the monitoring was conducted. This fact was fixed by the monitoring
mission. The NKR Ministry for Foreign Affairs considers the Azerbaijani
side’s misinformation as an attempt to frustrate the OSCE monitoring,
what had repeatedly taken place through official Baku’s fault.
The monitoring mission from the Karabakhi side was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

UZEIR JAFAROV: "ARMENIA WILL FURTHER CONTINUE PURCHASING MORE ARMS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES"

Today.Az
July 16 2008
Azerbaijan

"There is a good saying that guilty mind is never at ease.

And the announcement of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan
that Azerbaijan is violating regulation of the CFE Treaty is a good
illustration of the viability of this saying", said famous military
expert Uzeir Hajibeyov, commenting on the announcement of Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, made during the meeting with Joe
Nolenberg, co-chairman of the commission on Armenian issues of the
House of Representatives, and commission members, held in US Congress.

"I am sure that unfounded accusations of the Armenian side should not
be taken seriously, for Azerbaijan has never been accused of illegal
purchase of any weapon from any country, except for periodically
voiced statements of Yerevan, while Armenia has repeatedly been a
focus of scandals, connected with illegal purchase of weapon from
other states", said Jafarov.

He reminded there had been the well known scandals about Armenia’s
purchasing weapon of over $1 bln from Russia and the recent scandal
connected with purchase of missile launchers from China.

"I am sure that Armenia will further continue purchasing more arms
from other countries, while the statements, similar to that of Edward
Nalbandyan, are only an attempt to distract the attention of the
world society from such plans of Armenia and by this way official
Yerevan tries to draw attention of the world community to inexistent
problems with arms purchase by Azerbaijan", concluded Jafarov.

32 PEOPLE CONVICTED UNDER 301 IN 3-MONTH PERIOD

Zaman Online
July 16 2008
Turkey

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin has stated that 32 individuals
were convicted under the infamous Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK) in the first three months of this year.

In response to a parliamentary query made yesterday by Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) Aydın deputy Recep Taner, Å~^ahin said: "In
the first three months of 2008 there were 103 court cases regarding
301. Thirty-two individuals were convicted, and the court ruled for
the acquittal of 74 people. Eight of the 32 convicted were sentenced to
jail terms, 11 were given fines. Four received both jail sentences and
fines. Among the eight given jail sentences, the sentences of five were
commuted to fines and the sentences of the other three were suspended."

A recent amendment to the infamous article has improved matters. One
of the changes to Article 301, which previously criminalized "insulting
Turkishness" and has long been seen as an obstacle to freedom of speech
in Turkey, made it obligatory for prosecutors to secure approval from
the Justice Ministry before launching cases on 301-related charges. The
amendment was adopted in May of this year. In the past, the article
in question had been repeatedly challenged, particularly with respect
to the charges filed against Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated after
he was brought before the court.

–Boundary_(ID_ONZ7qA4CDY6Y7CKxqHJCrA)–

Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

PRESS RELEASE

Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen: Condemnation of Zarakolu not in line with
EU norms

The Hague, 20 June 2008 – The Federation of Armenian Organisations of the
Netherlands (FAON) was informed that Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen, also
on behalf of the Secretary of State for European Affairs in his answers on
written questions that Members of four factions in Dutch Parliament, namely
the Christian Union, the SGP (Political Reformed Party), the VVD (Liberal
Party) and the CDA (Christian Democrats), had submitted about the five month
sentence of Turkish publisher Ragip Zarakolu for publishing a book about the
Armenian Genocide, indicated that this condemnation is not in line with the
norms that the EU stipulates with regard to the freedom of expression. The
Dutch government will continue, bilaterally as well as in the EU contaxt, to
press for the removal of all obstacles that prevent a free discussion on
this issue, as this is of eminent importance to face the past. A definite
conclusion on whether further amendments of the Turkish penal code will be
necessary, only after the verdict of the Court, where the appeal of Mr
Zarakolu is still pending.

The litteral text of the Minister’s answers are as follows:

Hereby, I submit to you, also on behalf of the State Secretary for European
Affairs, the answers to the written questions by the Members Van der Staaij,
Voordewind, Van Baalen and Ormel on condemnation of a Turkish writer because
of publication of a book on the Armenian Genocide. The questions were sent
on 24 June 2008 with reference number 2070823460.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Drs. M.J.M. Verhagen

Answers by Mr. Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Timmermans,
State Secretary for European Affairs on the questions submitted by
parliament members: Van der Staaij, SGP, (Political Reformed Party),
Voordewind, CU (Christian Union), Van Baalen, VVD (Liberal Party) and Ormel,
CDA (Christian Democrats) on the condemnation of a Turkish writer because of
publication of a book on Armenian Genocide.

Question 1. Have you been noticed that a Turkish publisher has been
sentenced to five months in prison for publishing a book about the Armenian
Genocide of 1915?

Answer to question 1: Yes

Question 2. What is your opinion on this conviction, which is based on the
controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code?
Question 5. To what extent is this Turkish sentence in defiance of the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and with the European
Convention on Human Rights?

Answer on questions 2 and 5: This conviction is not in line with the norms
that the EU stipulates with regard to the freedom of expression.

Question 3. The respective controversial Articles in the Turkish Penal Code
have been adapted quite recently under pressure of the EU to be better able
to garantuee the freedom of speech in Turkey, especially in relation to the
Armenian Genocide. Does this conviction mean that these amendment has been
just cosmetic? What can be concluded about the scope and the meaning of
Article 301 after this conviction?
Question 4. What are the steps that the Minister intends to take bilaterally
and in the EU context to address the Turkish government on this sentence?
Question 6. What are the consequences of this conviction, according to the
Minister, for the EU accession negotiations with Turkey, bearing in mind the
Motion 21501-20, Nr. 270 by former MP Mr. Rouvoet and associates, adopted by
this Chamber?

Answer op the questions 3, 4 and 6: Mr. Zarakolu is going to appeal against
the decision with the Court of Cassation both procedurally and
substantially. Because the case is still pending, it can as yet not be
determined whether the recent amendment of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal
Code has produced the expected result.

The case against Mr. Zarakolu has been filed in December 2004 on the ground
of Article 159 of the old Turkish penal code. The Minister of Justice of the
time has then agreed with the lodging of this complaint. In June 2005,
Article 159 has been abolished and replaced by Article 301, which was later,
on 29 April inst., amended. Also, on the ground of the amended Article 301,
complaints can be lodged with the permission of the Turkish Minister of
Justice. Because, already in 2004 the permission of the Minister of Justice
of the time for filing of the complaint had been obtained, the judge has
opined that there is no need to request anew the permission of the present
Minister of Justice for this.

One of the questions which lies with the Court of Cassation at this time is
whether for this new complaint permission of the present Minister of Justice
had to be obtained. The judgment of the Court of Cassation will be binding
for all going matters for which permission had been given. This is of
importance, because the first set of complaints, which have been filed after
the amendment of Article 301, have in the meantime been rejected by the
present Minister of Justice. This refers to the fact that a restrictive
policy is pursued as regards granting of permission to bring such cases
before the courts.

Only after the verdict of the Court of Cassation can a definitive conclusion
be drawn on whether further amendment of the Turkish penal code concerning
freedom of expression is necessary.

Needless to say, the Dutch government will continue, bilaterally and in the
EU context, to press for the removal of all obstacles that prevent a free
discussion of the Armenian question. This is of paramount importance for
acknowledging and getting over with the horrible events which have taken
place around 1915.

A MEETING IN "NORAVANK" FOUNDATION

"Noravank" Foundation
14 July 2008

On July 4 of the current year the "Noravank" Foundation’s experts
hosted the RA Foreign Ministry head of the Committee for Diaspora
Hranush Hakobyan. The subjects discussed at the meeting concerned
to the urgent issues of organizing the Armenians people all over
the world.

Beginning from October 1 the above mentioned committee will be
reestablished into a Ministry for Diaspora affairs, which will make
a serious ground to realize the practical steps directed to solve
these problems.

The director of "Noravank" Foundation, Gagik Harutyunyan, mentioned
that it was already a year that in the framework of the Foundation had
been working Armenological Systemizing- Information center which was
engaged in organizing Armenological researches, establishing ties
with Armenological centers, organizing and realizing researches
and practical works in Armenian communities. He accentuated the
significance of forming Pen-Armenian joint information field,
exchange of current information by means of using all the advantages
of network capacities.

Representing the works carried out in the following direction
G. Harutyunyan also mentioned that within the framework of its
resources Foundation had also held an International Conference in
Yerevan devoted to the problems of Armenian communities (June 2007)
and organized field research works in the Armenian20communities. Both
the above mentioned Conference and field researches to study the
communities are the first events realized during the years of the
RA independence.

The head of Armenological coordination-information center of "Noravank"
Foundation, Phd Harutyun Marutyan was brief while touching upon the
works carried out in the framework of the center programs, especially
accentuating the issues concerning the policy of Armenian memory.

Some attempts have been made to outline practical ways of political
usage of memory about genocide, to inform the people inhabited in
Armenia about the attempts of foreigners (especially Jews) of putting
forward and looking for ways of solution of the Armenian Question
issues within a certain framework.

And that attempts suggest that it is necessary to undertake the work
of wording, motivating and representing claims raised to compensate
material damages caused by the Genocide taking into consideration the
fact that this process has been lasting for tens of years. The best
way to give solution to this problem is founding a non-governmental
organization which will not be constrained by the laws of the
interested state. This body may also be a structure carrying out
research-legal activity which is granted some competence by the
state and works within this framework at the same time representing
the interests of heirs of the Genocide victims spread all over the
world. Such a body has officially20been founded: the "Organizing
committee for preparations of the congress of representatives of
those Armenians saved from the Great Armenian Genocide." It makes
steps to strengthen its organizational capacities. One of the latest
initiatives of the organization is the scientific-practical conference
"Claims of western Armenians in the context of the Armenian Question"
held in Nikosia in April 2008.

The next problem, which is included in the program of the foundation’s
activity, concerns studying the experience of other states (in
particular Israel) in working with Diaspora communities and organizing
repatriation.

This experience has come to show that the ideology of repatriation
means not only realization of certain steps to return them to their
native land, but, first of all, to establish close ties with the
Diaspora communities, with separate people and families, involving
them into the common cause for the welfare of the native land, and
in the practical aspect – creation of mighty structures in the format
of state and non-governmental organizations.

The experience of other countries is quite multiform and edifying;
it is improved all the time and needs to be studied periodically
and carefully.

The head of "Noravank" Foundation’s Armenological program of "Security
of the Armenian people: research of communities" PhD Tamara Vardanyan
mentioned that it had already been establishe d constant relations
with a number of Armenian communities of the CIS countries and with
people engaged in preserving the Armenian identity.

According to her, continual exchange of information about problems
and events in the communities is circulating. Much attention is
devoted to the problems of the Armenian community in Tbilisi, and at
present active work is carried out together with the local Armenian
non-governmental organizations to work out and introduce mechanisms
of preserving the Armenian language and culture with the help of
national potential of public organizations. From this standpoint it
is important that in the Foundation it is well known the problems
connected with the condition of once powerful but at present day by
day weakening Armenian communities.

It was mentioned that today it had not only been established
motherland-community relations, but also direct intercommunal ties
aiming at establishing mutual cooperation and furthering effective
exchange of experience. T. Vardanyan also noticed that the process of
the Armenians’ assimilation on the post-Soviet plane was quicker than
in the other regions, for example, in the Middle East, as up till
now had been preserved the memory about our once being the citizen
of a united powerful state. Besides, Russian culture and language
are closer to us by nature, and these factors in their turn weaken
mechanisms of self-protection (immunity) and vigilance in us and the
abil ity to distinguish and appreciate real threats.

It was also discussed the problems of teaching the Armenian
language. It was mentioned that in the communities of the post-Soviet
plane the Armenian children were foreign language speakers (especially
Russian language speakers), accordingly, it was necessary to raise the
interest to their native language and create additional stimulus for
teaching, for example, organizing Armenian language and literature
Olympiads and competitions, distance courses of studying, that’s to
say, doing everything possible to stimulate the Armenian youth to be
introduced to the Armenian civilization and become the carriers of
national values.

The participants of the meeting were unanimous that to solve the above
mentioned unhealthy and actual problems it was necessary consolidation
of active and healthy powers of Armenia, NKR, Javakhk and Diaspora.

The head of "Noravank" Foundation’s Armenological center, PhD Ruben
Melkonyan mentioned that the problem of Islamized Armenians of Turkey
was very multilevel and was to be treated adequately. At present
certain processes occur among Armenians which were forcedly Islamized,
for example readopting Christianity. Some attempts are made to protect
historical-cultural monuments, and interest is stimulated to the native
language etc. It was especially mentioned that "Noravank" Foundation
had organized field researches (scientific-research business trips)
to the eastern districts of Turkey within the framework of the work
carried out to study the "apostate" Armenians.

One of the most important shades of the problem is the issue of
perception of apostate Armenians by the other groups of Armenians. As
an example of barrier among these groups were mentioned cold
relations among the Islamized Armenians inhabited in Germany
(Europe) and the local Armenian community, which is quite a serious
problem. P. Melkonyan accentuated the importance of perception
of the fact that as a result of different historical reasons it
had been formed a stratum of Armenians and people of Armenian
origin which differd from us by their religion, culture and way of
life. The existence of this stratum is a fact which must be taken
into consideration and it is necessary to work out ways and methods
to reestablish relation with them.

In his speech H Hakobyan mentioned that up-to-date information
technologies had made a good ground to put forward the above mentioned
problems. H Hakopian singled out four basic directions one should
adhere to while carrying out the work: organizational, ideological,
financial and legal.

"Diaspora’s attention is to be concentrated on Armenia," she mentioned
adding that the native land must be a magnet attracting to it.

At the end of the meeting "Noravank" Foundation’s director G.

Harutyuntan added that the Foundation would continue

scientific-research and scientific-Practical works in the above
mentioned directions and was ready to cooperate with the new
ministry. In her turn H.

Hakopyan mentioned she was impressed by the meeting and hoped that the
Foundation would make its contribution on working out the ministry’s
conception and the process of specification of its further plans
and priorities.

Â"21-st CenturyÂ" "XXI Century" N 2, 2008

In the second issue of "21st Century" of the current year are presented
articles devoted to the RA information security and actuality
of pen-Armenian plane formation (G.Harutyunyan), the necessity to
introduce theories and principles of network-centric wars and military
spheres of Armenia (H.Arzumanyan), stability of national broadcasting
(G.Khumaryan).

Here are also considered the problems of institutional system
of ensuring the RA national security (S.Tadevosyan), regional
developments etc.

(S.Sarukhantyan, S.Harutyunyan, N.Lazarian).

"21-st CENTURY" N 1, 2008 (English language edition)

In the first issue of the English language journal "21st SENTURY"
of the current year are spoken about a variety of problems including:
mutual influence of the new epoch imperatives and transformation of the
Armenian state (T.Sargsyan) and army (H.Arzumanyan), the issues of the
Republic of Armenia’s information security (S. Martirosyan), principles
and mechanisms of decision making in international organizations (S.

Movsisyan), the role of the oil factor of the power states’
South-Caucasian policy. In the issue are also analyzed the problem
of Islamized Armenians in Turkey…

Â"BulletinÂ" Bulletin of Noravank Scientific Educational Foundation
N 21, 2008

"Bulletin" â~D-21 of "Noravank" Foundation includes articles
devoteded to variety of problems concerning to economic developments
and globalization. The issue also includes current world economic
tendencies, perspectives and challanges.

Publications CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ARMENIAN CULTURE "Collection of
interviews"

This collection of interviews, the author and interviewer of which
is the research worker of RA AS Institute of Oriental Studies
H. Hmayakyan, is devoted to a number of branches of the Armenian
art and culture (mythology, carpet making, ancient Armenian music
and folk song, medieval miniature and architecture, contemporary
Armenian literature, film and ceramics as well as the problems of
preserving monuments). The interviews were held with different well
known specialists in this or that field.

–Boundary_(ID_RGFQJ22q0AaPsvDMW/e2RA)–

BUSH’S AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO YEREVAN PERSISTS IN NOT USING ‘G-WORD’

Turkish Daily News
July 14 2008

ISTANBUL – Turkish Daily News

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama who promised to recognize
the World War I era killings of the Armenians at the hands of the
Ottamans as genocide has shown one more time how he is committed to
his pledge. He has not missed the opportunity to inquire the current
administration’s stance on the issue at the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee’s ongoing review of the nomination of Marie Yovanovitch as
ambassador to Yerevan.

Yovanovitch appeared as a witness before the Committee on June
19. Obama, who did not attend the hearing due to his electoral
campaign, submitted four written question. The questions and answers
were published in the website of the Armenian National Committee of
America, or ANCA, last week.

Upon a question on how she characterizes the events surrounding
the Armenian issue, Yovanovitch refrained to describe the incidents
as genocide, although she acknowledged "the mass killings, ethnic
cleansing and forced deportations devastated over 1.5 million Armenians
at the end of the Ottoman Empire." Asked for what would be her future
steps to encourage recognition of the claims of genocide in Turkey,
Yovanovitch said the U.S. Embassy in Ankara was committed to work on
the issue. "As a recent example the administration is currently laying
the groundwork for an International Visitor Program that would bring
archivists from the Turkish State Archives to the United States,"
she said, adding that they have also invited Armenian archivists as
a confidence building measure.

Asked what actions she would take to remember the incident’s victims,
Yovanovitch said: "I will refer to this great historic catastrophe as
the ‘Medz Yeghern’, the term used within Armenia." She also said she
would make it a priority "to promote understanding and reconciliation
between the peoples and governments of Turkey and Armenia."

Upon a question whether the department was satisfied with recent
modifications to Article 301 of Turkey’s Criminal Code that
criminalizes to insult that allowed to be prosecuted for speaking
about genocide, Yovanovitch said the scope for free expression
has expanded in Turkey in recent years. She said they welcomed the
recent amendments and said they encouraged the Turkish authorities
to continue this progress and "to end legal action against citizens
for expressing their views."

Concerned that senators had not been given enough time to review
Yovanovitch’s response, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer placed a
one-month hold on her nomination, hinting that she or a like-minded
senator may permanently block the nomination on grounds that the
nominee is declining to characterize the killings of Armenians as
"genocide."

President George W. Bush’s previous nominee for U.S. ambassador to
Yerevan, Richard Hoagland, was subjected to two legislative holds
by Sen. Menendez and was ultimately withdrawn by the administration,
following the nominee’s statements denying the claims of genocide.