Author: Vasilian Manouk

WHAT IS TURKEY AFRAID OF?

Panorama.am
20:27 17/10/2007

"Is America trying to flatter Turkey, saying, ‘look what we’re
doing for you,’" Kiro Manoyan said today while talking about the US
government’s struggle to make sure House Resolution No. 106 doesn’t
pass.

In his words, the Bush administration is exerting great pressure
against the passage of the resolution.

He adds that they will increase their efforts when the voting
draws nearer. "And all this pressure comes in spite of the fact the
resolution isn’t a document that carries legal weight," Manoyan noted,
adding that only America flatters Turkey in this manner.

Manoyan is sure that the resolution will pass when voted on by
the US Congress because "there are enough votes to guarantee its
passage." Besides that, House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement
backs that opinion. We remind that Pelosi stated the resolution would
come to a vote by the end of November.

But what has Turkey so troubled? About that, Manoyan’s position is
clear. "They are afraid we will then present our other demands, but
besides that, they are afraid of what it will do to their image,"
he said.

MANUK GASPARYAN: IF SERZH SARGSYAN IS ABLE TO LIBERATE PEOPLE FROM ‘KARABAKH CLAN’, DEMOCRATIC WAY PARTY WILL SUPPORT HIS CANDIDATURE

ArmInfo.
2007-10-16 14:39:00

‘If Serzh Sargsyan is able to liberate the people from ‘Karabakh
clan’, the party Democratic Way will support his candidature at the
forthcoming presidential election. However, I am sure that he will
not be able to do it,’ Democratic Way party Leader Manuk Gasparyan
said at Friday Club.

He said if the presidential election of 2008 is transparent and
a pro-governmental candidate gains victory in it, he is ready to
congratulate him. ‘However, I doubt that Serzh Sargysan will run for
president, ‘ he said. The politician believes that the forthcoming
election is a real chance to get rid of the ‘clan’ but it is possible
only by means of a single-whole opposition candidate. However, the
opposition in Armenia is really weak and lacks unity, M. Gasparyan
said.

Pontifical Visit Media Advisory
His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

Pontifical Visit of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue New York, New York 10016

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate

Pontifical Visit
Media Relations Office
Michael O’Hurley-Pitts, Ph.D.
Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 154
[email protected]
Facsimile: 212.689.1934
Cellular: 212.533.0335

Sylvie Keshishian
Public Relations Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 160
[email protected]
Facsimile: 212.689.1934

PRESS RELEASE
16 October 2007

His Holiness Karekin II Pays Personal Visit in Miami to Archbishop
Christodoulos of Athens & All Greece

Miami – His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos, the Greek Orthodox Church of
Athens and All Greece, was visited by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, at a private home in Miami this
morning.

His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos traveled to the United States earlier
this year for medical treatment. His Holiness Karekin II, aware of His
Beatitude’s failing health, expressed his desire to visit him. Taking time
out from his pastoral visits to his parishes as part of his 18 city,
14-state Pontifical Visit to the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), the Catholicos of All Armenians paid a personal visit to his
friend and collaborator, Archbishop Christodoulos earlier this morning in
Miami.

His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos expressed his sincere pleasure in
receiving His Holiness Karekin II, who was accompanied in the personal visit
by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese.

His Holiness Karekin II and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian were
joined this morning by the Greek Consul General to Tampa, His Excellency
Andreas Psycharis, two Bishops from the Greek Orthodox Church, His Eminence
Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Bishop Theoklitos of Vresthena, and the
Chancellor to His Beautitude, the Reverend Thomas Synodinos and several
assistants.

His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, His Holiness Karekin II and His
Beatitude Christodoulos Praying In Armenian and Greek

The Catholicos shared with His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos that the
mutual respect and history between Greece and Armenia mean a great deal to
him. Together, the two faith leaders and friends reminisced about their
last meeting in Istanbul in 2006, which took place at the invitation of His
All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox
Church which was joined with the invitation of His Beatitude Mesrob II,
Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey.

As a pledge of his fraternal affection, His Holiness Karekin II presented
Archbishop Christodoulos with an Armenian Cross. Afterwards, the two
spiritual leaders prayed together in Greek and Armenian. The Archbishop
presented a silver plate to His Holiness Karekin II and an icon to His
Eminence Khajag Barsamian. The silver plate given to the Catholicos bares
the personal seal and signature of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos,
marking it as an intimate, personal gift. His Beatitude conveyed to the
Catholicos that the kindness he showed in taking time out from his
Pontifical Visit to pay his respects and pray with him provided considerable
spiritual consolation.

Before departing, His Holiness told His Beatitude Christodoulos that he
would continue to pray for his good health again that morning during a
service at St. Mary Armenian Church in Hollywood, Florida.

His Beatitude expressed his happiness to the Catholicos about the Armenian
Genocide Resolution out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee being passed
on October 10. Both noted the losses to human life inflicted upon their
respective peoples at the close of the Ottoman Empire.

Relations between Greece and Armenia are very strong both emotionally and
historically, due to their long, shared history and their mutual commitment
to the Christian faith. Greeks and Armenians lived side by side during both
the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

Historically, relations between Greece and Armenia have been very warm. The
President of the Hellenic Republic, President Karolos Papoulias, accompanied
by First Lady Mei Papoulias, was invited to Armenia on a three-day state
visit in June 2007 by the invitation of Armenia’s President, Robert
Kocharian. President Kocharian had previously been invited to, and visited
Greece in 2000.

While making his State visit to Armenia in 2007, President Papoulias made a
pilgrimage to Holy Etchmiadzin where he was received by His Holiness Karekin
II at the Catholicosate. The President also visited the cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin along with the Catholicos.

Following the visit to the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Athens
and All Greece, His Holiness Karekin II asked the Armenian faithful to pray
for the Archbishop’s good health at St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Hollywood,
Florida. As part of the service at St. Mary Armenian Church, His Holiness
Karekin II blessed the khatchkar’s (Armenian stone crosses) on the altar of
the Church.

The Catholicos, His Holiness Karekin II, began his Pontifical Visit to his
flock in the United States with a two-day visit to the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America in California at the beginning of October.
The Catholicos will be visiting the faithful in the Eastern Diocese for an
unprecedented 30 days which will be concluded on November 3rd. During the
course of the Pontifical Visit, His Holiness Karekin II will visit 18 cities
in 14 different states (a complete list of visits can be found online at:
<; ).

Daily coverage of the Pontifical Visit can be found online on the official
Pontifical Visit Web Site (
<http://www.pontifical visit.org/> ). The site provides a wealth of
information about His Holiness Karekin II, the Armenian Church, and the
Diaspora and includes daily photographic and video updates to allow the
faithful throughout the United States and the world to stay abreast of
events, activities and worship services.

For more information on the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II,
including supplemental media advisories and background papers, please visit:
<; and
<;

# # #

PM’S ADVISER: TURKEY SHOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA

Jerusalem Post
By Associated Press
Oct 16 2007
Israel

Turkey should impose sanctions against Armenia because it supports a
resolution in the US Congress that says the World War I-era killings
of Armenians was genocide, a Turkish official said Tuesday.

"Turkey must impose sanctions against Armenia," Egemen Bagis,
a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
said on CNN-Turk television.

THANKS TO AHMAD NURIZADE’S TRANSLATIONS IRANIAN READERS ARE FAMILIARIZED WITH ARMENIAN LITERATURE VERY WELL

Noyan Tapan
Oct 16, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. "I am the only poet in the world,
who though not being Armenian by nationality, creates in Armenian,"
Iranian writer and poet Ahmad Nurizade said at the October 16 press
conference. He has visited Yerevan to take part in the Tsakhkadzor
events dedicated to the Holy Translators’ Day. According to him, thanks
to his translator activity of more than 30 years Iranian readers are
familiarized with Armenian literature better than with the literary
values of China having more than 1.5 billion population. According to
A. Nurizade’s observation, Armenian literature is divided into three
branches, patriotic, Soviet Armenian, and "works of global value." The
first two, according to him, are of no interest for Iranian readers,
therefore he has only translated works of global value during his
whole literary activity.

A. Nurizade said that he has published two anthologies, that of
Armenian poetry of 1875-1975 and of new Armenian literature lately
in Iran.

The poet refused to comment upon the activity of Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad saying that in general, he keeps away from
politics. "I have been a political prisoner for three years, now I
am already tired of political life," he said.

TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: WE OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE US CONGRESS
Geri Don Gonder Yazýcý

Dunya online, Turkey
Oct 15 2007

Mesrob Mutafyan, the patriarch of Turkish Armenians, yesterday said
that the Turkish-Armenian community is opposed to the resolution
concerning incidents of 1915 set to be considered by the full US
House of Representatives.

Speaking to reporters while visiting the Church of St. Nicholas in
Demre, Antalya, he said that the resolution was domestic political
fodder in the US, adding that the issue is irrelevant to Turkish
citizens of Armenian origin. He said they are all opposed to the
resolution.

–Boundary_(ID_NFVA/mPI/gh+w4pCww TVxA)–

SERJ TANKIAN TRULY GOES SOLO ON HIS FIRST SOLO ALBUM
by Rafer Guzman

PopMatters, IL
Oct 16 2007

Serj Tankian, lead singer for System of a Down, may be one of the
most politically active figures in music – a member of Amnesty
International, an advocate of free speech, a vocal critic of the
current administration – but even he can get tired of democracy.

"With System, it’s a process where four people have to agree on what
songs to use," Tankian said, explaining his decision to release his
first solo album. "When you’re doing it by yourself, all the decisions
come and go with you."

He’s not kidding: "Elect the Dead," due Oct. 23, features almost nobody
but Tankian. Though System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan appears on
one song, and a handful of session musicians sit in on other tracks,
nearly all the instruments – piano, guitars, bass, synthesizers –
were played by Tankian. He produced it himself and is releasing it
on his own label, Serjical Strike Records.

In some ways, the album is a natural sequel to "Mezmerize" and
"Hypnotize," the two wildly ambitious albums System of a Down released
in 2005. Once again, there are plenty of hard-rock rhythms, operatic
arias and the melismatic vocal lines that reflect Tankian’s Armenian
heritage (which he shares with all the members of System).

There are also some tough issues at hand. The song "Unthinking
Majority" asserts, "I believe that you’re wrong, insinuating they
hold the bomb," a reference to Iraq or Iran or "perhaps both,"
Tankian suggested. And the album’s overall lyrics reflect a deep
dissatisfaction with current events.

But the disc is also fairly introspective, often conflating the
personal with the political. When Tankian sings, "Why do we sit around
and break each other’s hearts tonight?" (on the song "Saving Us")
it’s hard to tell whether he’s addressing a lover or all humankind.

Speaking by phone from his home in Los Angeles, Tankian described
this album as "more philosophical than political." His thoughts,
he said, tended toward larger ideas of civilization, history and
the sustainability of life on the planet, though he tried to avoid
preaching. "I never use the words `global warming,’" Tankian said.

"Any time you use cliches or key words, it raises thoughts and
feelings that you think or don’t think. I’d rather have you come in
with a clean palette."

So what about the title track, "Elect the Dead?" Despite its title,
it sounds almost like a love song. "Death we know comes for us alive,"
Tankian sings, "but all I want is you."

"I’ve heard a lot of interpretations on what `Elect the Dead’ might
mean," Tankian said. And though he didn’t offer his own, he cited
one of his favorites: "Maybe the people who are the victims of the
epitome of civilization should be the ones who elect our next leaders."

article/49894/serj-tankian-truly-goes-solo-on-his- first-solo-album/

BOARD RULES THAT ROMANIAN PRESIDENT DID NOT MAKE RACIAL SLUR ABOUT ARMENIANS

International Herald Tribune
The Associated Press
Oct 15 2007
France

BUCHAREST, Romania: Romania’s anti-discrimination board concluded
Monday that remarks made by President Traian Basescu last month were
not considered defamatory to the Armenian community.

Basescu, who underwent surgery in September on his thyroid gland,
had thanked doctors at a Bucharest hospital, especially the surgeon,
by saying: "At last I see a kind Armenian, a competent Armenian."

The National Council for the Fight against Discrimination said in a
statement that the remarks "were of a political nature."

The statement was directed at a political rival, Economy Minister
Varujan Vosganian, who is an ethnic Armenian and a member of the
governing Liberal Party. At the time, Vosganian had accused Basescu
of being "a risk for democracy."

Romania’s politicians from all parties have been embroiled in bitter
political disputes for years, especially with the popular president,
after no party managed to secure a majority in 2004 parliamentary
elections.

Basescu’s office said Tuesday that his remarks had intended to
highlight the professionalism of the surgeon who operated on him and
praised ethnic Armenians "for the extraordinary contribution that the
Armenian community has made for years in the cultural and scientific
life of Romania."

Romania has a few thousand ethnic Armenians – many of whose ancestors
emigrated to the country 1,000 years ago – and they are well-integrated
into society.

TURKEY OPPOSES LOCAL ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 15 2007

The Turkish Foreign Ministry declared over the weekend that the
scheduled local elections in Upper Karabakh on October 14h symbolizes
an attempt ignoring all efforts to provide a peaceful and lasting
solution.

The Ministry said in a statement, "we learnt that local elections
will be held in Upper Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which has been
occupied by Armenia, on October 14th by ignoring international law and
expectations of the international community following the so-called
presidential election on July 19th. It is evident that these elections,
which are considered parts of efforts to unilaterally legitimize
the illegal situation in Upper Karabakh, will mean violation of
international laws, decisions of the UN Security Council and principles
of the Council of Europe (COE) and the Organization of Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)."

"Holding local elections in Upper Karabakh on October 14 symbolizes
an attempt ignoring all efforts to provide a peaceful and lasting
solution and ongoing negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Process to
resolve Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute. Turkey condemns such an attempt
violating political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, and calls on the international community not to recognize
results of these illegal local elections," the Ministry said.

POINTLESS MORAL EXHIBITIONISM IN TURKEY
By Rich Lowry

Town Hall, DC
07/10/15/pointless_moral_exhibitionism_in_turkey
O ct 15 2007

The Ottoman Empire died an ignominious death 85 years ago in the
aftermath of World War I. Democrats are nonetheless intent on rebuking
it for the mass killing of Armenians during World War I that many
scholars and a proposed House resolution call "genocide."

The historical controversy over the massacres is an extremely sensitive
point in Turkey, where it’s a crime to refer to the massacres as a
genocide. The mere passage of the resolution by a House committee last
week was enough for Turkey to recall its ambassador to the U.S. The
House leadership promises a vote by the full House by the middle of
November, and the resolution likely will pass with bipartisan support,
souring relations with an ally whose support is absolutely essential
to our war in Iraq.

And the Democrats accuse President Bush of diplomatic insensitivity?

Bush the "cowboy" would never do something so pointlessly
destructive. The resolution represents local interest-group politics
wedded to moral exhibitionism, with tendentious, strategically
blinkered justifications thrown on top.

The top "Young Turk" Ottoman ministers responsible for the deportation
orders against the Armenians — Mehmet Talaat, Ismail Enver and Ahmed
Djemal — might be appropriately shamed by the resolution if they
hadn’t died in 1921, 1922 and 1922 respectively.

To have had any positive real-world effect beyond the merely symbolic,
the resolution should have been pursued by Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s
predecessor, Champ Clark, who ruled over the House from 1911 to 1919.

Pelosi has a special interest in the resolution because she has
thousands of Armenian-Americans in her district, as does another strong
backer of the resolution, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. These constituents
want recognition of the historic injustice done to them and their
forebears. That’s entirely understandable, but it’s not the role of
the United States Congress to unravel long-ago historical disputes.

Most members of Congress need to be told how to vote on the latest
highway-appropriations bill. They aren’t suited to rule on complex
historical controversies, especially when no local projects are
involved to hold their attention. The slaughter of the Armenians
is not as self-evidently a genocide as the Holocaust. Armenians were
killed in massive numbers, but respected historians like Bernard Lewis,
Norman Stone and Guenter Lewy think there wasn’t genocidal intent on
the part of the Ottoman government.

Even if Pelosi and Co. are right, there is no reason to pass this
resolution now, with our troops dependent on logistical support
flowing through Turkey and Turkish troops massing on the northern
border of Iraq for a potentially destabilizing strike against Kurdish
terrorists. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, citing Darfur, says, "If
we paper over what has happened, then we are at risk of letting it
happen again."

Well, we are letting it happen again already in Darfur, and a
resolution about a 90-year-old atrocity isn’t going to stop it. How
many members of the murderous Janjaweed militia have even heard of
the Ottoman Empire, let alone care whether the U.S. Congress condemns
its crimes or not? A genocide could overtake Iraq if the sectarian
war there burns out of control, but all Democrats have to say about
that potential atrocity is that we should get out of its way. Perhaps
one of Pelosi’s successors will propose a nonbinding House resolution
criticizing the slaughter in 2097.

In response to the resolution, the Turks could deny us landing rights
at the air base at Incirlik, close the crossing into Iraq at the
Habur frontier gate, and deny us blanket overflight rights. All of
this is crucial to the resupply of our troops in Iraq who Democratic
politicians swear they "support" at the same time they consistently
undermine their mission. They opposed the troop surge that has shifted
the military landscape in their favor, they emboldened their enemies
by broadcasting our lack of staying power, and now they could alienate
one of their friends.

But the Ottoman Empire, from somewhere in the dustbin of history,
presumably will learn its lesson.

Rich Lowry is author of Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton
Years .

photo: People attend the funeral of a soldier, Ali Sahan, in the
central Anatolian city of Kutahya October 8, 2007. A Turkish soldier
was killed and three more were wounded in a landmine explosion on
Monday, putting further pressure on Turkey’s government just one
day after Kurdish rebels shot dead 13 Turkish troops. The increased
attacks on security personnel in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey have
reignited talk of a major Turkish military incursion into neighbouring
northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels who use the region as a base.