Author: Virabian Jhanna

LOCAL LEADER: CITY COULD HAVE IMPACT ON GENOCIDE CONTROVERSY
By Dan Atkinson , Staff Writer

The Daily News of Newburyport, MA
ry_239093942?page=0
Aug 27 2007

NEWBURYPORT – The Commission for Diversity and Tolerance will take a
closer look this week at the city’s involvement in No Place For Hate,
a tolerance-promoting program that has come under fire because its
sponsor, the Anti-Defamation League, has refused to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide.

And while the program is useful, according to a local Armenian leader,
the commission should consider withdrawing.

"They should rattle their swords," said the Rev. Aram Marashlian,
a member of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of the
Merrimack Valley. "They should keep making noise."

Commission member Beth Horne said No Place For Hate is a "fabulous"
program, but she said anyone with concerns about it should come to
the meeting.

"It’s certainly an item on our agenda," Horne said.

The commission, formed by city ordinance in 2005, reports to the
City Council and the mayor. Its goals include raising awareness of
diversity, providing anti-bias education and promoting a welcoming
community.

The controversy began several weeks ago in Watertown, which is home to
more than 8,000 Armenians, when a letter to the local paper criticized
the ADL for not acknowledging the 1915 genocide, in which Ottoman
Turks killed more than 1.5 million Armenians. The city council voted
to stop participating in the program; Arlington followed suit.

When the director of the local ADL chapter agreed that the organization
should recognize the genocide, he was fired.

Last week, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said the slaughter
of Armenians was "tantamount to genocide," but would not support a
Congressional resolution to label it as such and never expressly stated
it was genocide. And the Turkish ambassador to Israel cut short his
vacation, returning to Israel to try to "correct" the ADL’s statement,
according to reports.

Pearl Teague, co-chairwoman of the Armenian National Committee’s
Merrimack Valley chapter, said both Armenian and Jewish leaders in
the area are upset that the ADL is not supporting the resolution. She
said the national committee would continue to push for the ADL and
Congress to fully recognize the genocide.

"This is not acceptable for a mid-stance, to say ‘Yes, it’s a fact but
no, we won’t further recognize it,’" Teague said. "It’s appeasement
for political reasons, when these organizations should be making a
stand on the moral high ground."

Teague said many Armenians came to the Merrimack Valley when fleeing
the genocide and stayed to work in the mills and factories. She
estimated that at least 5,000 Armenians still live in the region.

Marashlian said Armenians and Jews have a connection because they
have faced similar persecutions, but he could understand that the ADL
has political reasons to deny the genocide. Turkey is one of the few
Mideast countries to recognize Israel, and Marashlian said the ADL
probably does not want to strain relations between the countries,
or possibly make life difficult for thousands of Turkish Jews.

"Foxman is one of those Jews for Jews only – I can’t fault him for
that," Marashlian said.

But Marashlian still thinks cities and towns should pressure the ADL
into fully acknowledging the genocide. If cities stop participating in
No Place for Hate, the ADL would lose many potential donors, he said.

"Money is what talks," Marashlian said. "If you can hurt their
pocketbook, they might consider it."

The Commission for Diversity and Tolerance meets tomorrow at 3:30
p.m. in the police station.

The Fresno Bee
Race for supervisor’s seat should trigger voter interest
By Jim Boren
08/19/07 04:33:07
Quick Job Search

Somewhere between being so popular in 2004 that he was unopposed for
re-election and today, when he faces two well-financed opponents, the
political career of Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston careened
off track.

It didn’t help that his District 5 constituents have been incensed
over several high-profile issues — water availability in the
foothills, too much development and a garbage collection system that
turned into a fiasco. But Waterston’s political problems are of his
own making.

Conflict-of-interest allegations have even caused him to hire a lawyer
to investigate his business and supervisorial dealings. He said he’s
done nothing wrong, but wants the lawyer to look at his entire record
to determine if there have been some "technical" violation of
conflict-of-interest laws.

The fallout has created a political climate that Fresno County voters
haven’t often seen: a competitive supervisorial election that has two
big-name challengers gathering tens of thousands of dollars aimed at
retiring an incumbent board member.

This race has everything a political junkie could want. Waterston, the
good old boy, facing a fresh-faced Clovis City Council Member, Nathan
Magsig, and a member of a long-time political family, Debbie
Poochigian.

Two formidable opponents

Both challengers have enough star power to make most politicians
tremble. Waterston says he doesn’t take either candidate lightly, but
believes District 5 voters know him and what he stands for.

"My polling shows that voters understand what I’ve done for them and
my commitment to public service," said. "But one thing is for
sure. Whoever wins, District 5 will be well-represented."

Waterston at times is gracious about his political opponents, and
other times seems annoyed with them. He says he helped Magsig get
elected to the Clovis City Council and now "he wants to take me out."

Waterston, 62, also was critical of Poochigian’s challenge, which came
after he endorsed Poochigian’s husband, Chuck Poochigian, for attorney
general last year. Waterston said Debbie Poochigian told him that she
wasn’t going to run for his seat. There were rumors at the time that
she would challenge Waterston.

"She told that to my face, and then I turn around, endorsed Chuck and
wrote a $1,000 check for the AG race," Waterston told a Bee reporter
in April. "I did that all for them, and here we are. … I’m not sure
what her motives are."

Poochigian said she was in the middle of her husband’s statewide
campaign for attorney general when Waterston asked whether she was
running against him for supervisor. "I said, ‘Bob, I’m not running for
anything right now,’ " adding that she would make a decision at a
later time.

Last week, she indicated she would run against Waterston, but said she
will make a formal announcement after the first of the year. "I’m the
outsider running against two incumbent politicians. But I’m pretty
confident about my chances."

Outsider or not, Poochigian, 54, brings a significant political
pedigree to the race. Her husband was a longtime Valley legislator and
her father, the late Deran Koligian, was a longtime county
supervisor. In addition, she has been a major political fundraiser
over the years and has built up many IOUs among the region’s
Republican establishment.

Magsig has long eyed county seat

Magsig, 30, said he has been working toward running for county
supervisor for some time. He announced his candidacy last week.

"I have nothing personal against Bob and consider him a friend,"
Magsig said. "I have been looking at this race for well over a year. I
want to be part of the change in the county. This race will not be
decided by personalities, but by the issues and the message."

Waterston said he looks forward to debating both challengers. Voters
will see that he has deep knowledge of county issues, and how complex
the problems are, he said. "I work every day on these issues, and
those who don’t have that experience may not appreciate the difficult
choices that you must make when you sit on the board."

None of the candidates will be able to say they didn’t have enough
money to get their message out. A recent Bee story said Magsig leads
with close to $214,000 in his campaign treasury, with Waterston having
more than $208,000. Poochigian raised $168,900 in less than three
months, and is ready to turn on the money-raising spigot. We are still
10 months from the June primary election.

All three are skilled politicians, and the primary campaign could be a
political science class for other local candidates. You can expect a
21st century campaign using the latest technology, traditional
campaigning methods such as walking precincts and plenty of money
spent on broadcast advertising.

If this race doesn’t get you excited, you don’t know how to have fun.

Jim Boren is The Fresno Bee’s editorial page editor. His column
appears Sundays. E-mail him at [email protected] or write him at
1626 E St., Fresno 93786.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 23 2007

Chances for adoption of resolution on Armenian genocide by US
congress strong

YEREVAN, August 23. /ARKA/. The chances for the adoption of
Resolution #106 on the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress are
strong, Sharistan Melkonian, the leader of the Hay Dat (Armenian
Cause) Commission, Massachusetts, USA, told a press conference in
Yerevan.

If Resolution #106 is put on the agenda of the US Congress today, it
will be adopted, she said.

Melkonian said that, according to the US legislation, 218 members of
the US Congress must vote for the resolution for it to pass. She
pointed out that more members of the US Congress have pronounced for
the resolution, but their position during the voting is difficult to
forecast, so the number of supporters of the resolution must be
increased for it to pass.

Melkonian stressed that the adoption of Resolution #106 is an end in
itself for the USA-based Armenian community. The adoption of the
document by the USD will make Turkey admit the Armenian Genocide and
re-open its border with Armenia.

Resolution #106 was submitted to the US House of Representatives on
January 30, 2007. To be adopted, the House Resolution does not need
to be approved by the US Senate or signed by the US President.

The Resolution calls on the US President to present issues related to
human rights, ethnic cleansing, genocide, particularly the Armenian
Genocide, as well as the documents kept in the US Archives, in their
true light. P.T. -0–

GERMANY TO ADVOCATE PEACEFUL REGULATION OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI, NAGORNI-GARABAGH CONFLICT WITHIN TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

Demaz.org
Aug 22 2007
Azerbaijan

Member of delegation, currently visiting our country, headed by
former secretary of state of Federal Republic of Germany, chairman of
German-Azerbaijani forum, Otto Hauzer, deputy chairman of faction of
Christian-democratic union and Christian-social union of Bundestag,
Andreas Shokenhof, stated the above in an interview for press upon
completion of the meeting with the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign
Affairs on August 20.

Having informed that delegation was received by President, Ilham
Aliyev, A. Shokenhof, stressed that Azerbaijan is very important
country of the region for Germany. Guest stressed that Azerbaijan
became strategic partner of USA and European Union and in general
our Republic serves as example for the countries pursuing independent
policy.

A. Shokenhof said that at the meeting with Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamadyarov, the issue of regulating
Nagorni-Garabagh conflict was discussed. He underlined that Germany
still adheres its previous position on the issue, recognizing Nagorni
Garabagh as integral part of Azerbaijan and condemning aggressive
policy of Armenia. Advocating phased regulation of Nagorni-Garabagh
conflict German guest stressed that rapid solving of this problem
may turn to example for regulation of other "frozen" conflicts.

Having informed that issues of economic cooperation were also discussed
at the meeting, A. Shokenhof, brought to the notice availability of
grand opportunities for cooperation in energetic and transport sectors.

Guest said that they will have meetings in Milli Mejlis and Ministry
of Economic Development; there also will be visit to Geychay region.

GROSS FOREIGN ASSETS OF ARMENIA MAKE 1 BILLION 216 MILLION 27.3 THOUSAND DOLLARS AT END OF SECOND QUARTER OF 2007 AGAINST 1 BILLION 62 MILLION 908.3 THOUSAND DOLLARS AT BEGINNING OF SAME QUARTER

Noyan Tapan
Aug 23, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The gross foreign assets of Armenia
made 1 bln 216 mln 27.3 thousand USD at the end of the second quarter
of 2007 against 1 bln 62 mln 908.3 thousand USD at the beginning of
the same quarter.

According to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), international reserves
of these assets (gross foreign assets in convertible currencies) made
1 bln 216 mln 26.6 thousand USD at the end of the second quarter of
2007 against 1 bln 62 mln 907.6 thousand USD at the beginning of the
same quarter.

The SDR amount in the IMF made 3 mln 973.7 thousand (about 6 mln 22.4
thousand USD) at the end of the indicated quarter against over 7 mln
762.5 thousand (11 mln 772.9 thousand USD) at the beginning of the
second quarter.

THE POLITICS OF HYPOCRISY
By Evan R. Goldstein

916.html
24 Aug 07

Abraham Foxman has become a menace to his own legacy. That is a
shame because it is a good and decent legacy. Over the course of a
career spanning 42 years at the Anti-Defamation League, Foxman has
been an ardent champion of civil rights, a tireless defender of the
separation between church and state against those who insist on tearing
it down, and a consistent watchdog of the fever swamps of extremism,
into which he has shined the bright lights of opprobrium on bigots
of all stripes. These achievements should all be applauded.

And yet Foxman has also shown himself to be both morally obtuse and
ethically challenged. One of the more egregious instances of such
impropriety occurred in 2001, when a congressional probe revealed that
Foxman had helped orchestrate fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich’s
controversial pardon from then president Bill Clinton. Rich had fled
the country in shame to avoid federal charges that he had cheated
the government out of $48 million and had traded with the enemy. The
timing of Foxman’s personal appeal to Clinton on Rich’s behalf was
no coincidence. A few months prior to that, the ADL had received a
$100,000 pledge from Rich. In short, Foxman had prostituted the ADL’s
credibility for a deep-pocketed – and exceedingly shady – donor.

All of which takes me back nearly nine decades to Ottoman Turkey,
where over one million Armenians perished in a horrific spasm of
organized slaughter.

This historical episode has become a political flashpoint in
Washington, D.C., where all kinds of influence peddlers have been
engaged in a fierce struggle over whether Congress should officially
codify the Armenian massacre as genocide. The Turkish government has
spent millions of dollars and twisted countless arms in an effort to
trounce this resolution. More troubling, it has been able to enlist
the support of the ADL – along with other Jewish organizations –
in its campaign of denial.

Let us be clear from the outset: This debate is not about the veracity
of scholarship or the merits of comparative historical interpretations.

Academic authorities agree on this matter, and the evidence that
the campaign against the Armenians constituted the first genocide
of the 20th century is overwhelming and incontrovertible. Instead,
the debate is about politics, in particular the important multilateral
relationship between Israel, the United States and Turkey – one of the
world’s few Muslim-majority countries that is also a democracy. As
the ADL put it in a recent statement: "Turkey is a key strategic
ally and friend of the United States and a staunch friend of Israel,
and in the struggle between Islamic extremists and moderate Islam,
Turkey is the most critical country in the world."

Foxman has particularly distinguished himself by indulging in spineless
acts of rhetorical ambiguity, declaring that "this is not an issue
where we take a position one way or the other. This is an issue
that needs to be resolved by the parties, not by us. We are neither
historians nor arbiters." This from a man who rightfully claims that
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust denial amounts to
an attempt to destroy Jewish identity! This from the leader of an
organization that has rightfully called on the world not to avert
its eyes from the genocide underway in Sudan’s Darfur region! (One
wonders what Foxman would do if Khartoum were on friendly terms
with Jerusalem.)

This bizarre and shameless display of hypocrisy gradually came
under fire from Armenian civil rights groups and a small cadre of
outraged Jewish journalists, in particular those congregated around
the engaging – if unfortunately named – online magazine Jewcy. All
this protest came to a climax last week when Andrew Tarsy, the New
England regional director of the ADL, publicly broke with the national
position, which he characterized as "morally indefensible." (I hasten
to add that Tarsy apparently only took this drastic step after his
efforts to quietly work within the organization to change the national
position were stymied.)

"I have been conflicted over this issue for several weeks," Tarsy told
The Boston Globe. "I regret at this point any characterization of the
genocide that I made publicly other than to call it genocide. I think
that kind of candor about history is absolutely fundamental." Tarsy’s
heroic stand has earned the young activist a great deal of admiration
in the Boston-area, where the ADL has a rich legacy of combating
bigotry. Not surprisingly, it earned him nothing but scorn from Foxman,
who promptly fired him.

But the outrage only grew, and Foxman ultimately decided out of
"concern for the unity of the Jewish community at a time of increased
threats against the Jewish people, to revisit the tragedy that befell
the Armenians." And upon "reflection, we have come to share the view
of Henry Morgenthau Sr. that the consequences of those actions were
indeed tantamount to genocide." This statement, which the ADL released
on Tuesday, is stunning on account of its total lack of integrity.

First, note the disingenuous way Foxman lays the groundwork for his
disgracefully belated admission of the obvious, by attributing his
reversal to the risk of disunity within the Jewish community. What
does the unity or disunity of the Jewish people have to do with
distinguishing between historical fact and malicious fabrication?

Second, note how Foxman completely fails to grasp the fundamental
significance of Morgenthau’s legacy (which he was nonetheless clearly
intent on co-opting). Serving as America’s ambassador in Istanbul
at the time of the genocide, Morgenthau alerted his superiors in
Washington that the ongoing persecution of Armenians was "assuming
unprecedented proportions," ultimately characterizing Turkish
aggression as an "effort to exterminate a whole race." (The word
"genocide" was not coined until 1944.) And although the American
response to Morgenthau’s cables was dreadfully feeble, his actions
testify to the ethical imperative of bearing witness and acknowledging
inconvenient truths. In contrast, Foxman’s statement of contrition
diminishes the importance of the truth.

Third, note the weasel words "consequences" and "tantamount" – why
not just say it was genocide? Long notorious for running the ADL
like a personal fiefdom, Foxman has always resisted calls to plan for
his eventual departure. In response to a 2003 effort by regional lay
leaders to force Foxman’s hand on this matter, he blithely told the
Forward that when "I’m ready to retire or do something else, I will
notify my lay leadership." As someone who believes in the enduring
value of the ADL’s work on behalf of a more tolerant and pluralistic
America, I hope Foxman realizes the time has come.

Evan R. Goldstein is a writer in Washington, D.C. and a contributing
editor at Moment magazine.

The Messenger
Thursday, August 23, 2007, #161 (1428)

Lomaia: no chance of an Armenian-language university in Samstke-Javakheti

By Ana Kvrivishvili

Minister of Education and Science Kakha Lomaia rejected a Yerevan
proposal to open an Armenian university in Samtskhe-Javakheti, a
Georgian province with a large ethnic Armenian population.

"Our citizens, the ethnic Armenians living in Akhalkalaki,
Ninitsminda, and other regions can wholly satisfy their educational
needs in Georgian universities," Lomaia told journalists on August 22.

Last week, the Armenian Minister of Education and Science Levon
Mkrtichian said he would push for a new Armenian-language university
in the province when he meets with Lomaia in Yerevan. He had
previously proposed the project in talks with Georgian Prime Minister
Zurab Noghaideli.

The Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi confirmed the initiative, but said
they would reserve comment until the two education ministers had a
chance to talk about it in person.

Susana Khachaturian of the NGO Shushanike, which advocates for ethnic
Armenian women’s and education rights in Georgia, told the Messenger
that university applicants who don’t speak Georgian-like many of the
ethnic Armenians in the impoverished Samtskhe-Javakheti province-have
little hope of getting a higher education.

"For them, it’s impossible to pass the national entrance exams,"
Khachaturian said.

Head of the Union of Armenian Youth of Georgia, Mikhail Avakian,
agreed that some ethnic Armenians face hurdles in education.

"Georgian-speaking Armenians have no problems at all…Russian and
Armenian-speaking Armenians, however, have a lot of difficulties
getting an education," Avakian told the Messenger.

Khachaturian said she would welcome an Armenian-language university in
the province, but that it would be more helpful in integrating ethnic
Armenians if the Georgian government opened it, rather than Armenia.

Education Ministry spokeswoman Keti Chkhobadze, however, reiterated
Minister Lomaia’s statement that there would be no serious discussion
between Tbilisi and Yerevan about opening an Armenian-language
university in Samtskh-Javakheti.

Instead, the ministry is planning to create Georgian-language prep
courses for ethnic Armenian, Ossetian and Azeri university applicants.

"Ethnic minorities in our country will have everything they need to
learn Georgian. The courses will be free, plus applicants taking the
courses will get scholarships of GEL 100," Chkhobadze said.

GENRE CRISIS AND DEAD STARS

Lragir.am
22-08-2007 15:12:43

The leader of the National Democratic Party Shavarsh Kocharyan
describes the home political situation in Armenia with one phrase
"genre crisis".

In a news conference on August 22 at the Friday Club he explained
what he meant. The means has replaced the end, in other words, the
government which is a means of solving problems has become an end in
itself for both the opposition and the government. According to the
leader of the National Democratic Party, the programs and ideas are
ignored, and the issue of personalities is set forward. They blame
people but Shavarsh Kocharyan thinks people are not to blame.

"In fact, people have always responded to the positive moves
the political sphere has ever suggested. It may sound a little
unexpected, but if we try to describe the entire political sphere,
it is oppositionist. It opposes to people," says the leader of the
National Democratic Party.

According to him, everyone in the political sphere is led by narrow,
personal, family and clan interests. The consequence, according
to Kocharyan, is the parties are shrinking, and cannot keep the
necessary organizations to influence the society. According to Shavarsh
Kocharyan, only the government parties have this possibility because
they have money.

Shavarsh Kocharyan points to a few circumstances with regard to
the upcoming presidential election. According to him, the first
is the overestimation of the post of president. Meanwhile, after
the amendments to the Constitution the president’s powers were
shortened. "Second, the election of a president does not mean a change
of government. Even if he represents another political force than
the parliament majority, he either will have to adjust to and work
with the majority or the majority which holds all the levers will
isolate him." With regard to the presidential candidates, he says
they should be counted in fall like the chicken. He is skeptical
about the quest of the opposition for a common candidate. He says
the problem of personalities underlies this quest rather than new
approaches. The leader of the NDU does not rule out his participation
in the meetings of the opposition leaders but he says again that
without a deep analysis of the previous failures and a change in
quality and consciousness everything ends up in the Olympic principle
that participation is important of all.

"You know the theory of relativity. The faster the object moves, the
bigger its weight is. I mean we need to move on to increase our weight.

Meanwhile, the questions that are asked all the time refer to the
weight of the political figures who make no headway," says Shavarsh
Kocharyan. He adds that a constellation of dead stars gives no light
and heat.

National ADL reverses stand; calls Armenian massacre ‘genocide’
By Associated Press
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 – Updated: 02:25 PM EST

BOSTON – The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday reversed itself and
called a World War I-era massacre of Armenians a genocide, a change
that comes days after the ADL fired its New England regional director
for taking the same stance.
ADL President Abe Foxman’s statement that the killings of
Armenians by the Ottoman Empire were "indeed tantamount to genocide"
follows a week of controversy in which critics questioned whether an
organization dedicated to remembering Holocaust victims could remain
credible without acknowledging the Armenian genocide.
The New York-based organization had called the deaths of
up 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Muslim Turks an atrocity, but
stopped short of saying it was genocide – a planned extermination of
the Christian Armenian minority.
Last week, the town of Watertown, which has a large
Armenian population, withdrew from the ADL’s "No Place for Hate"
anti-bigotry program because of the organization’s refusal to call the
massacres a genocide. The ADL also fired regional director Andrew
Tarsy after he said he agreed the killings were genocide.
The town of Acton and Newton were also considering whether
to break ties with the ADL, and several Jewish organizations signed a
letter urging the organization to acknowledge the killings as
genocide.
In a statement Tuesday, Foxman said he consulted with
historians and his friend and Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel after the
controversy began, and became convinced genocide had occurred.
Nurten Ural, president of the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations, said she was disappointed by the ADL’s
decision. Suffering was shared by both Turks and Armenians during a
time of war, and calling it genocide by the Turks is like being
accused of a crime you didn’t commit, she said.

Catholicos of All Armenians receives Argentine delegation

arminfo
2007-08-18 14:13:00

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received an Argentine delegation
headed by Armando Tiraturyan, Saturday. The delegation has come to
Yerevan to take part in the Fourth Pan-Armenian Games, the
press-service of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin told ArmInfo.

The Catholicos welcomed the guests and pointed out the significant role
of the Games in consolidation of relations between Motherland and
Diaspora. According to Karekin II, this is a good tradition to
familiarize Diaspora’s representatives with the values and everyday
problems of Armenia.