Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

HEEDLESSNESS AND ABERRATION CONTEST: ARTICLE 301
Omer Lutfa° Mete

Turkish Daily News
April 18 2008

Debates over Article 301 of the penal code are a contest of overlooking
and aberration.

One side asserts that’ll be freedom to insults to Turkish identity
as the other claims an obstruction before the freedom of expression
is being lifted.

Neither is true!

Pro-change group says "The Republic of Turkey killed Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink, let’s remove this shame."

And the other group says "Whoever insults the Turkish identity should
be killed!"

I exaggerated it, didn’t I?

But to prove the dimensions of this debate, positions need to be put
under microscope.

And if you examine anything under a microscope it seems larger!

The poles of this tension give the above impression.

Meanwhile the Western world believes we’re in a great deal of
polarization so much that we’re divided in two.

A group of Westerners say "Yes, Article 301 killed Dink and you better
change it."

The other say, "Even if so, the article cannot be amended; otherwise
it’ll be free to insult Turkish identity."

Under these circumstances, you decide if the debate over the article is
political and ideological or a contest of heedlessness and aberration?

–Boundary_(ID_d+L2MPP0U1QHoAYw599/9Q )–

PRESS RELEASE
Genocide Day Press Release(UK)
Wales-Armenia Solidarity
Contact: E. Williams
Cardiff, Wales
Tel: 07870267447
Email: [email protected]

Armenian and Assyrian groups have
collaborated in an unprecedented joint conference in the House of
Commons, London on Genocide Day. There is also Kurdish participation.
Any messages to the Conference from organisations or individuals are
most welcome to [email protected]. The speeches and some
messages will be published and sent to Members of Parliament
Armenian Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides (ASVAG)

c/o The Temple of Peace, Cardiff

[email protected], Tel: 07718982732

and Nor Serount Cultural Association

supported by

The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East

The European NGO: "Working Group Recognition – Against Genocide, for
International Understanding",

The Seyfo Centre,

The Aegis Trust and The Genocide Prevention All-Party Parliamentary
Group

invite you to an

ARMENIAN/ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE DAY CONFERENCE

Sponsored and chaired by Andrew George M.P.

in The Grand Committee Room of the House of Commons, London

on Thursday, 24th April (Armenian Genocide Day) at 11 a.m. till 1.00
p.m.

The following questions will be addressed:

Is Reconciliation possible after Genocide? Is denial of truth any
basis for Reconciliation?

Taking the Armenian, Assyrian, Greek and Kurdish examples: Does the UK
government hinder the process of reconciliation by its one-sided
pro-Turkish government stance?

Will the planned state visit by HM the Queen to Turkey in May be a seal
of approval on the Turkish government’s distortion of the truth of the
genocide, and the continuing cultural genocide in Turkey?

Presentations:

"The Psychological Effects of Genocide Denial" – By Ruth Barnett

"The Comparative Aftermath of the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide" –
By Gregory Topalian

"The Assyrian/Aramean Perspective" – By Sabri Atman, The Seyfo Centre,
Amsterdam

"International Law and the Genocide" Sars Aziz, The Seyfo Centre

"The Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Kurdish and ‘Other’ Genocides: The
Politics of Genocide Recognition and Denialism" – By Desmond Fernandes

"A bird’s-eye-view on the phenomena of Genocide and the Armenian
Experience of it" – Professor Khatchatur I. Pilikian.

For further information, contact Eilian Williams on: 0771 8982 732 or
[email protected]

There is also organised an event in Cardiff, Wales. We hope that the
Monument which was desecrated on Holocaust Memorial Day may be repaired
in time

Genocide Day in Wales (thursday 24th april 2008)

You are warmly invited to

1 A Commemoration of the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide (in
solidarity with the victims of all other Crimes against Humanity)

at 5.15 p.m. on 24th april 2008

A Wreath-laying and prayer at the Genocide Monument,
in the back garden(North Road side), the Temple of Peace,Cardiff

2 The following lecture:
The Seyfo Centre
supported by
the Welsh Centre for International Affairs,
United Nations Wales Association
Armenia Solidarity

invite you to a lecture on:

The 1915 Assyrian Genocide and its implications for today

Speaker : Mr Sabri Atman, director of the Seyfo Centre

at 5.30 p.m.

in the upstairs Council Chamber,
The Temple of Peace, King Edward viii Ave, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales
CF10 3AP
More info: 07718982732

AZERBAIJAN SUSPECTS ARMENIAN LINKS WITH KURDISH MILITANTS

Interfax News Agency
April 16 2008
Russia

Deputy Azeri Foreign Minister Araz Azimov does not rule out a link
between Armenia and members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
banned in Turkey and the U.S., he told Azeri TV channel ANS.

Russia supplied armaments to Armenia for $1 billion, Azimov said.

"But later, according to some sources, a part of these armaments was
redelivered to Kurdish terrorists. This information is based on the
data from our sources and partner nations," he said.

PRESIDENT: AZERBAIJAN WILL INCREASE MILITARY SPENDING TO $2 BILLION

Associated Press
April 15 2008

Azerbaijan’s president announced plans Tuesday for another enormous
increase in the country’s military budget as tension continued with
neighboring Armenia over a long-standing territorial dispute.

Azerbaijani defense spending could reach almost $2US billion
(euro1.3 billion) this year, up from $1.3 billion (euro820 million),
Azerbaijan’s state news agency quoted Ilham Aliev as saying.

"The increase of military spending should not be analyzed out of
context. We must not forget that we are in a state of war," Aliev said,
according to the news agency.

The planned increase is in line with the growth of the state budget,
Aliev said.

"Certain international organizations criticize us for building up
our military capabilities. What they don’t understand is that, over
the last four years, the state budget has risen tenfold," he said.

Exports from the country’s vast Caspian Sea oil and gas reserves
have helped lift Azerbaijan’s economy since the Soviet collapse,
and propelled an aggressive upgrade of its armed forces.

Tensions remain high between Azerbaijan and Armenia, two South Caucasus
nations that participated in a six-year conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
a region that is inside Azerbaijan but has been controlled by ethnic
Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire. Some 30,000 people were
killed and more than 1 million driven from their homes.

International mediators have repeatedly sought to get the two
countries to resolve the dispute, which has held up development in
the strategic region.

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

MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN OFFICIALS IN ANTELIAS-LEBANON
COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER ON MIGRATION

"Migration is a human concern, not a Muslim or a Christian one, and
therefore Christians and Muslims must act on it together," stated His
Holiness Aram I at an international conference on migration taking place at
the Armenian Catholiocstae in Antelias. Representatives of Lebanon’s faith
communities shared this opinion as the Public Hearing on Migration and the
Changing Ecclesial Landscape was officially opened last evening.

Representatives of the Druze, Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim communities joined
their words of welcome to those from Metropolitans of the Maronite
(Catholic) Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch as well as Aram
I, Catholicos of the (Armenian Orthodox) Holy See of Cilicia, which hosts
the hearing.

Both Muslim and Christian leaders stressed that Lebanon with its diverse
religions not merely coexisting but "living together under one roof" has a
message for those countries who struggle with the diversity that accompanies
immigration. They also warned: "Those who speak of a clash of civilizations
are setting a trap for both Christians and Muslims – we must be vigilant."

The Public Hearing on Migration and the Changing Ecclesial Landscape
currently taking place in Antelias, Lebanon is the first in a series of
hearings on the topic which are to take place over the next years in the
different regions of the world. It will be followed by a 2-day meeting of
the Global Ecumenical Network on Migration (GEM), which brings together
regional ecumenical organizations, churches and Christian agencies working
on the topic around the world.

Both the public hearing and the GEM meeting are co-organized by the World
Council of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos235.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos236.htm
http://www .armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos2 37.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

TWO PERSONS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING VIOLENCE AGAINST POLICEMEN ON MARCH 1 SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT, ONE OF THEM GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The court of Yerevan’s Kentron
and Nork-Marash communities on April 14 made rulings on charge of
committing violence against a representative of the authorities in
Liberty Square of Yerevan on March 1. The court granted the petitions
of the defendants Mesrop Zakarian and Raji Petrosian to conduct an
accelerated court examination.

Based on the ruling of the court (chairman – Judge Ruben Apinian),
Mesrop Zakarian, 46, of the city of Vanadzor, was given 2 years’
suspended sentence with 2 years’ probation. He was found guilty
under the RA Criminal Code’s Article 316 part 1: violence against a
representative of the authorities.

According to the indictment, the defendant did not obey the legal
demand of policemen: to allow to check the information about existence
of arms and ammunition in Liberty Square. Moreover, according to
the indictment, by pushing, hitting and pulling the policemen,
the defendant committed violence not threatening their health or
lives. The defence lawyer Beniamin Minasian stated in his speech
that the defendant admitted his guilt and repented saying that he
"fell a victim to rallies of Levon Ter-Petrosian".

Based on the ruling of the court (chairwoman – Judge Gayane
Karakhanian), Raji Petrosian, 30, of the city of Maralik, was
sentenced to imprisonment of 2 years and 6 months. He was found
guilty for committing violence against policemen in Liberty Square
early March 1. R. Petrosian was not given suspended sentence as he
was twice convicted in the past: for military service evasion and for
obtaining and using drugs. The indicated article of the Criminal Code
envisages imprisonment of a maximum of 5 years.

VARDAN OSKANYAN’S FAREWELL TO AMBASSADORS

Panorama.am
19:58 11/04/2008

Today the foreign affairs responsible Vardan Oskanyan had a last
farewell meeting the foreign countries ambassador in Armenia.

According to the public relations department of the foreign affairs
ministry, mister Oskanyan expressed his gratitude and appreciation
to the ambassadors for the cooperation and common work held in
those years.

V. Oskanyan also appreciated the ambassadors’ countries and states
signifying that he had been always feeling the support and aids of
those countries. The Ambassadors wished him success in his future
activities.

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY’S OFFICE OPENED IN GEORGIA

armradio.am
11.04.2008 12:06

Armenian Relief Society’s (ARF) regional office has been opened
in Akhalqalaq, Georgia. Coinciding with Mothers Day, the opening
ceremony was attended by the Locum Tenens Prelate of the Georgian
See of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Reverent Father Babken
Salbyian; Reverent Father Samuel Torosian; Member of the Georgian
Parliament, Hamlet Movsysian; The Mayor of Akharqalaq, the Honorable
Ararat Gamalian; Akhalqalaq Police Chief, Samuel Petrosian; Chief
Physician of the Akhalqalaq Hospital, Dr. Alexander Torosian; regional
representatives of educational, labor union, and other centers;
directors of schools and financial institutions, as well as ARS
members from Akhalqalaq, Ninotsminta and Akhaltskha.

The ribbon on the entrance of the Office was cut by ARS Central
Executive Board Chairperson, Hasmig Derderian – who was in the country
for this occasion — following which, Locum Tenens Prelate Father
Babken Salbyian blessed the premises and, addressing the gathering,
stated, that the Armenians of Javakhq truly appreciate all those,
who even merely think and worry about their needs. He affirmed,
that this newly opened ARS office will be a home full of warmth
for the Armenians of Javakhq. In a brief statement, Chairperson of
ARS/Georgia, Karineh Tadevosian, assured the audience, that at last,
with the reality of the ARS Javakhq office, the Society’s activities
will be accelerated like never before. Then, she invited the ARS,
Inc. Chairperson to address the gathering.

After expressing her satisfaction for the opening of the ARS Javakhq
office, and a brief synopsis of global activities and mission of the
ARS, Mrs. Derderian pointed out, that the newly inaugurated ARS office
in Akhalqalaq will be "that warm abode, where every Armenian will feel
safe, finding a sympathetic ear to personal problems." She added,
that, "it is a genuine source of pride to us, not only the duty of
presiding over the opening of a new ARS office, but the knowledge,
that this is a center of service to our people, where the global ARS
structure will do its utmost to wipe the tear of a mother in distress,
to lessen the pain of a traumatized child, to watch Armenian youth
sing and dance, and to turn the spotlight on Javakhq for all ARS
members to see and be aware of."

After the Chairperson’s words, Georgian Parliament member, Hamlet
Movsysian addressed the gathering with words of welcome and greetings,
followed by other personalities’ congratulatory expressions, after
which, drinks and pastries were served.

On their visit to Javakhq, the ARS. Inc. Chairperson and the
Executive Director visited the Akhaltskha and Akhalqalaq Youth Centers,
established with the efforts of the ARS Javakhq Development Committee,
the Tzughrit Village and its ARS Health Center, where they had a
working session with the Executive body of ARS/Georgia. They met
with the Locum Tenens Prelate of the Georgian See of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Reverent Father Babken Salbyian; and paid a
visit to the Akhalqalaq Hospital, where through the efforts the ARS
Javakhq Development Committee, there now exist all necessary medical
equipment and a Dental Health center.

CHRISTIANITY STUDIES TAUGHT

Panorama.am
20:38 10/04/2008

Every Wednesday all Christians can visit Holy Cathedral Echmiatsin
to get some Christianity studies which are blessed by the Supreme
Patriarch of all Armenians Garegin II. According to the press
service of Echmiatsin the studies include spiritual talks, Holy music
studies. The responsible of the studies is assigned Mesrop Priest
Parsamyan. The first class of the studies was held yesterday.

First the priest presented the mission and the content of the studies
and started his first talk about Holy ceremony.

SERGEI MARKEDONOV: CONFLICT IS BEING REKINDLED AGAIN
by Rzayev

DEFENSE and SECURITY
April 9, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

The arms race keeps Azerbaijan and Armenia off each other’s throats
in all earnest, but only for the time being

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST SERGEI MARKEDONOV;
An interview with Russian political scientist Sergei Markedonov,
department chief of the Political and Military Analysis Institute.

Question: Your opinion on the situation with the Azerbaijani-Armenian
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, please? The discord between chairmen
of the OSCE Minsk Group and official Baku is undeniable nowadays. The
escalation of tension on the front line in Nagorno-Karabakh is
unprecedented…

Sergei Markedonov: I believe that all conflicts on the territory of
the late Soviet Union – not only the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
– are being rekindled nowadays. The involved parties’ motives are
different, of course. No longer satisfied with the status quo, the
defeated parties would like to turn the tables. The winners (granted
that the term is somewhat dubious) see Kosovo as a precedent they hope
to use to promote their objectives. Afraid that the Kosovo precedent
may be applied elsewhere, post-Soviet countries with territorial
problems take steps of military and diplomatic nature.

All of that is reviving the currently latent conflicts. As a matter
of fact, the conflicts we are talking about are not exactly latent.

Changes taking place in conflict areas are not necessarily for the
better. Violence is mounting. It tripled in Nagorno-Karabakh over
the last twelve months. Conflicts will soon cease being latent.

Question: Do you then anticipate the renewal of hostilities between
Armenia and Azerbaijan? When do you expect them?

Sergei Markedonov: What is happening does not mean that the hostilities
are about to be commenced, right now or even tomorrow.

What we witness are attempts on the part of an involved party
(Azerbaijan in this particular case) to change the existing
situation. Baku’s threats to withdraw from the OSCE Minsk Group and
settle the conflict by other ways and means do not exactly facilitate
the status quo. Add here the aggressive militarist rhetoric which
is definitely dangerous because it creates a certain atmosphere and
inflames society.

And yet, it does not mean that the hostilities will be resumed in
the near future. Azerbaijan and Armenia are involved in a regional
arms race. Each country demonstrates certain successes in this sphere.

Azerbaijan never misses a chance to boast of its growing military
budget enabling it to buy weapons and military hardware. Armenia is
less redundant because it views itself as the winner. Objectively,
it is this very arms race that keeps Azerbaijan and Armenia off each
other’s throats. And yet, the process of rekindling the fires of the
conflict is well under way. It may eventually result in hostilities
or, hopefully, in some progress in the talks.

Question: What is your opinion of Russia’s stand on the UN resolution
concerning situation on the occupied Azerbaijani territories (March 14,
2008)? All chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group including Russia voted
against its adoption. Unlike Paris and Washington, however, Moscow
encouraged other UN members to vote against the resolution, much to
Azerbaijan’s chagrin. What about impartiality expected from OSCE Minsk
Group chairmen. Moscow voted against the resolution i.e. for Armenia…

Sergei Markedonov: Well, so did India, for example. Besides, all OSCE
Minsk Group chairmen were unanimous on the matter. By the way, that’s
what makes the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict different from the ones in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia and the United States disagree over
these latter conflicts. In this case, however, it was decided against
seconding this Azerbaijani resolution. On the other hand, I wouldn’t
call this stand anti-Azerbaijani. Better call it not pro-Azerbaijani,
if you see the difference. There are different angles the UN voting
may be viewed on from. One may call the outcome of the voting a triumph
because 39 UN members voted "aye". On the other hand, it may be termed
as a defeat as well because all OSCE Minsk Group chairmen voted "nay".

Question: But OSCE Minsk Group chairmen could abstain from voting or
miss the meeting altogether, right? Do you think it is possible for
OSCE Minsk Group chairmen to win Baku’s trust back again. Has there
been any such trust in OSCE Minsk Group chairman in the first place?

Sergei Markedonov: I do not think official Baku ever trusted them
completely. Baku has been critical of France for a long time already,
and also of Russia for that matter. The United States has been mostly
spared criticism. Until now. This is probably the first time when
Azerbaijani diplomacy is so critical of the Americans. In fact, Baku
always takes any failure to vote the way it wants as a hostile move.

Russia, France, and the United States meanwhile have never taken it
as voting for or against anyone. That’s a major distinction, a major
difference in interpretation.

Question: NATO summit begins in Bucharest, Romania, soon. Georgia
and Ukraine earnestly hope that the summit will become a milestone
on their way into NATO. Will it become a signal to Baku as well? What
do you think of Azerbaijan’s chances to join NATO?

Sergei Markedonov: I do not expect Georgia and Ukraine with their
coveted membership to become the central issue of the NATO summit.

Afghanistan is number one issue on its agenda. Moreover, NATO will
also discuss the situation in some countries of the Balkans that are
about to become full-fledged members of the Alliance. In short, I’m
quite skeptical of Georgia’s chances and I do not perceive Azerbaijan
in NATO. As a matter of fact, Armenia and Azerbaijan cooperate with
NATO with more or less equal abandon. Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the
Alliance may be somewhat more energetic, but it remains insignificant.

Question: What do you think of the current Azerbaijan-Russian
relations? What effect does Moscow’s policy with regard to Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has on its bilateral relations with Baku?

Sergei Markedonov: Notice that Moscow never mentions the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict together with the conflicts in
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, or the Trans-Dniester region. I suspect
that the Azerbaijani diplomacy knows it too. In the meantime,
Russian-Azerbaijani relations should serve as an example for the
Russian-Georgian relations. It is possible after all to improve the
latter. I’m convinced that Russia will try to maintain a balance
in its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Still, they may be
somewhat better with Armenia because Russia has a military base on
its territory and because of some other factors.