Pamuk Dodges Genocide Issue

PAMUK DODGES GENOCIDE ISSUE

news.am, Armenia
Nov 12 2009

Famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk dodges a Genocide subject in every
possible way once winning a Nobel Prize. A question about Genocide
apparently put Pamuk in a temper, as he left the ceremony hall in New
York during the November 10 presentation of his new book "The Museum
of Innocence".

The journalist from Armenia, former Armnews political analyst Hayk
Martirosyan attended the ceremony and asked the writer a confusing
question, namely what caused passivity in Pamuk’s standpoint on
Genocide issue. "Is it a result of criminal proceedings instituted
against you or there is another reason for your silence?" The writer
obviously disliked the question, he got nervous and replied avoiding
the word Genocide.

"For me it is first of all a matter of freedom of speech and it’s
not the only interest in my life. There are more important things.

Besides, these topics should be first discussed by Turkish people,"
said Pamuk, leaving the hall without even inscribing his books.

Crossroads E-Newsletter – November 12, 2009

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

November 12, 2009

IN MEMORIAM: EDWARD KERBEYKIAN

With sadness we announce the passing of Edward Kerbeykian, who passed
away on Monday, November 9 at the age of 90. Mr. Kerbeykian was a
Pillar
of the Prelacy and a founding member of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey.

His wife, Shirlee, died in May and his son, Jeffrey, died in
2002. Mr. Kerbeykian is survived by another son Craig, his
daughter-in-law Sophie
(widow of Jeffrey) and six grandchildren.

An army veteran of World War II, Mr. Kerbeykian, a graduate of Rutgers
University, was a senior vice president at Hekemian & Co., in
Hackensack, New Jersey for 59 years. He was an active member and
leader in the local Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

Eddie and Shirlee Kerbeykian were active and dedicated members of the
Armenian community. Besides
being Pillars of the Prelacy, Eddie served on the Prelacy’s auditing
committee for several years. Together with his late brothers Charles
and Armen
and their wives, they were active and dedicated members of
Sts. Vartanantz Church starting from the church’s founding in 1959.

The family will accept visitors tomorrow evening, Friday, November 13,
from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm at the William G. Basralian Funeral Home,
559 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell, New Jersey. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan will conduct the Dan Gark (Home Service) at 8 pm. Funeral
services
will take place on Saturday at 10 am at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian
Apostolic Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New
Jersey. Interment will
follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers donations are being accepted for Sts. Vartanantz
Armenian Church (address above) and for the Jeffrey Kerbeykian
Scholarship
Fund, c/o Armenian Missionary Association of America, 31 W. Century
Road, Paramus, New Jersey.

The Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils extend heartfelt
sympathy to the Kerbeykian family. May he rest in eternal peace.

PRELATE WILL BE IN WASHINGTON DC AREA
Archbishop Oshagan will be in Washington, DC, this weekend, where on
Saturday, November 14, he will preside
over the 45th anniversary banquet celebration of Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.

On Sunday His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver
the sermon.
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO LEBANON FOR
MEETINGS AT THE CATHOLICATE

Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Lebanon next week where next
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 18, 19, 20, a series of
meetings will take
place with His Holiness Aram I and the Central Executive Council and
representatives from the three North American Prelacies (Eastern,
Western,
Canadian).

Archbishop Oshagan will lead the Eastern Prelacy’s delegation which
includes Father Aram Stepanian, Jack Mardoian, Noubar Megerian, and
Raffi
Ourlian. Also traveling from the U.S. is Dr. Dertad Manguikian who is
a member of the Central Executive Council.
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO NORTH ANDOVER

Bishop Anoushavan will visit St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley,
North Andover, Massachusetts, where on Friday evening, November 13, he
will
lead a Bible Study on "Bible, Theology & Art in the Armenian Divine
Liturgy."

On Sunday His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
Sermon and preside over the parish’s 39th anniversary banquet. For
information: 978-685-5038.

BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN ATTENDS LITURGY AND DINNER HONORING THE
CONSUL OF LEBANON

Bishop Anoushavan attended a Pontifical Divine Liturgy last Saturday,
at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon in Brooklyn, New York. During
the
Liturgy the Maronite Bishop Gregory Mansour conferred upon the
Honorable Antoine Azzam the Insignia of the Order of Saint Gregory the
Great in the
name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI who named Mr. Azzam a Knight of
the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great.

Mr. Azzam is the Consul General of
Lebanon in New York. The Liturgy was followed by a dinner in the
Cathedral Hall.
Photo: Bishop Aoushavan with Consul General Antoine and Mrs. Danielle
Azzam.

NEW CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE CATHEDRAL

Explore the basic elements of what Armenian Christians believe through
a six-part program on "The Creed (
F/nicenecreed.pdf )"
(Havadamk). Chanted or recited by countless Christians every Sunday
during the Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy), the Creed represents
a concise summary of biblical faith, formulated by the Church fathers
of the first two Ecumenical Councils–Nicaea (325 AD) and
Constantinople (381
AD)–and endorsed by all the ancient churches.

The classes will take place at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, twice a month, on the
2nd and 4th
Mondays: November 23, December 14, 28, January 11, 25, February 8. The
program will begin at 7:15 pm with a presentation (about 45 minutes)
followed
by Q&A and discussion (45 minutes).

The event is sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) and St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. The sessions will be
conducted
by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, AREC Director.

The program is open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For
registration and information: [email protected]
(mailto:arec@armenianprel acy.org) or 212-689-7810;
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
212-689-5880.
AREC DIRECTOR WILL LEAD SEMINAR IN RHODE ISLAND

Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) will conduct a three-hour seminar on the Divine Liturgy
(Soorp
Badarak) this Sunday, November 15, for the Sunday School teachers of
the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
Dn. Shant
has also been invited to deliver the sermon on Sunday during the
Badarak.

ANNUAL ARMENIA FUND THANKSGIVING TELETHON

Please don’t forget the Armenia Fund’s annual Thanksgiving
Telethon. For the first time the telethon will focus on one place–the
legendary city
of Shushi. Remember how overjoyed we were with the military successes
in Shushi in the battle for the liberation of Karabakh? Well, now we
need to
express that joy in dollars as Shushi, devastated through the war,
desperately needs help. This is another war. This war is against the
crumbling
infrastructure of Shushi, against the rampant unemployment, against
widespread poverty, and against the hopelessness that has gripped the
valiant
inhabitants of Shushi.

Donations can be made at anytime before, during and after the
Telethon. For complete information go to Armenia Fund’s web site,
( ).

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, November 12, are: Proverbs
28:10-18; Baruch 3:31-4:4; 2 Timothy 1:6-12; Matthew 19:27-29.

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is
within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us
a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of
self-discipline.

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his
prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying
on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.
This
grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it
has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ
Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a
teacher,
and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know
the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to
guard
until that day what I have entrusted to him. (2 Timothy 1:8-12)
For listing of this week’s Bible readings click here (
F/dbr2009-11.pdf ).
BAREKENDAN OF THE FAST OF ADVENT
This Sunday, November 15, is the Barekendan of the Fast of Advent
(Hisnag). This is a week-long fast
(Monday to Friday) leading up to the first Sunday of Advent, which is
next Sunday. Advent guides us to the birth and baptism of Christ. It
begins
fifty days before January 6. Advent is intended to be a solemn and
quiet time for prayer, reflection, and preparation for the mystery of
the
Incarnation.

Traditionally the entire period of Advent was a period of fasting. Now
there are three week-long fasts during Advent (along with the regular
fast
days of Wednesdays and Fridays): The Fast of Advent (Hisnagats Bahk);
The Fast of St. James (Sourp Hagopeh Bahk); and the Fast of
the Nativity (Dznuntyan Bahk).

SOME INTERESTING EVENTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION….

U.S. PREMIERE OF FILM "GYUMRI" TOMORROW

The Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the American
Museum of Natural History are proud to co-sponsor the United States
premiere
of GYUMRI (69 minutes), at the 33rd annual Margaret Mead Film and
Video Festival tomorrow, Friday, November 13, 8 pm. Filmmaker Jana
Sevcikova, who will attend the screening, tells the story of the
survivors of the December 7, 1988 earthquake that struck northern
Armenia, nearly
leveling the town of Gyumri. She spent three years making this
documentary film about life after the catastrophe. To order tickets:
212-769-5200.
Mention Anthropology Museum of the People of New York to receive
special member price of $10. For information: 718-428-5650.

HAMAZKAYIN OF NEW YORK PRESENTS TRIBUTE TO HOLY TRANSLATORS

The Literary Committee of Hamazkayin of New York will present an
evening devoted to the Holy Translators, on Friday, November 20, at
the
Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, New York.. Speakers
include Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York,
who will speak about the "Sacraments of the Feast of the Holy
Translators," and Aris Sevag, noted editor, translator, and writer,
who will speak
about "The Present State of Translation Activity."

The event will also include biographical readings, as well as
recitations by the students of St. Illuminator’s and Holy Martyrs
Armenian Day
Schools. For information: (
).

ARSHILE GORKY EXHIBIT CONTINUES

A reminder that the Arshile Gorky retrospective at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art will continue to be on display until January 10, 2010.

Reviewing the exhibit in Time magazine, Richard Lacayo wrote: "In the
seven or so years before he took his life in 1948, he produced some of
the
greatest, most explosive works of the 20th century, a synthesis of
Surrealism and abstraction that unlocked voluptuous new possibilities
for
painting and opened the way to Abstract Expressionism. It wasn’t a
long life, but it was lit by fire."

ONE DAY SEMINAR ON RAPHAEL LEMKIN

A one-day seminar on Raphael Lemkin, "Genocide and Human Experience:
Raphael Lemkin’s Thought and Vision," will take place this Sunday,
bringing together an international group of historians, political
scientists, anthropologist, philosophers, and legal experts to focus
on genocide
through the eyes of Lemkin. Participants include Vartan Gregorian who
will speak on "Raphael Lemkin and the Making of the UN Genocide
Convention,"
and Peter Balakian who will speak on "Raphael Lemkin’s Notion of
Cultural Destruction and the Armenian Genocide."

The event will take place at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West
16th Street, New York City, this Sunday, November 15, beginning at 9
am. To
register or for further information go to (
) or call 212-868-4444.

LEARNING ARMENIAN AT YOUR OWN SPEED:
ON LINE…OFF LINE… OR BOTH

Available on the Prelacy’s web page is an on-line course in modern
Western Armenian. The course was developed by Dr. Thomas J. Samuelian
with
partial funding from the Prelacy. It is accessible through the
Prelacy’s web page ( (
)). Anyone wanting to learn Armenian
can have access to it and go through the exercises at an individual
pace.

Dr. Samuelian holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of
Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is the author
of a number
of books, articles, reviews and translations in the field of Armenian
language, literature and history. He has taught at the University of
Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and St. Nersess Seminary. He is
currently dean of the Law Department at the American University of
Armenia. He
is co-founder of a public interest law practice in Armenia, Arlex
International Ltd.
TEXTBOOKS BY SAMUELIAN AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE PRELACY BOOKSTORE

The following textbooks by Tom Samuelian can be used alone to learn
western Armenian, or can be used as a companion to the online course
described
above. These textbooks are published by the Eastern Prelacy’s Armenian
National Education Committee and have become popular and easy tools
for
learning Armenian.
A Course in Modern Western Armenian: Exercises and Commentary
By Thomas J. Samuelian
This hefty 852-page book is a gem for anyone who wants to learn
Armenian and is ready to devote some time to the endeavor. You can go
through the
exercises at your own speed.
Soft cover; $40.00 plus shipping and handling.
A Course in Modern Western Armenian: Dictionary and Linguistic Notes
By Thomas J. Samuelian
Hard cover, 272 pages.
FREE with the purchase of above book.
Armenian Dictionary in Transliteration
By Thomas J. Samuelian
This popular and handy dictionary in transliteration was out of print
for many years. The Prelacy recently reprinted it and it is now
available.
Soft cover, 140 pages; $15.00 plus shipping and handling.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OR OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE, (
) OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY EMAIL AT
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) OR BY
TELEPHONE 212-689-7810.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 13–Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and The
American Museum of Natural History co-presenting the U.S. Premier of
the film Gyumri, at the 33rd Annual Margaret Mead Film and Video
Festival, 8 pm. Filmmaker Jana Sevcikova, who will attend the
screening, tells the story of the survivors of the December 7, 1988
earthquake that
struck northern Armenia nearly destroying the town of Gyumri. For
information: 718-428-5650.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 15–39th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, presided by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General.
November 20-21–Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November
21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
November 22–St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Thanksgiving
Luncheon and Cultural Program, presented by the Cathedral’s Ladies
Guild. $25 adults; $10 children. For reservations:
212-689-5880. Parking for $7.00
available at Kips Bay 27, 240 East 27th Street (between 2nd and 3rd
avenues).
November 22–Holiday Fair Luncheon, Chinese Auction and Bake Sale
presented by the Ladies Guild of St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th
Street, Douglaston, New York, at 1 pm. Adults $10; children under 12
$5.00. For
information 718-224-2275.
December 4–Special benefit concert for St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan, featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian at the Dearborn Performing
Arts Center.
December 5–Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar. Come one, come all.
December 5–Saint Gregory (North Andover, Massachusetts) Ladies Guild
Christmas Luncheon and Yankee Swap at the Phoenician at Michael’s
Function Hall, Route 110 in Haverhill.
December 5–Annual Christmas Bake Sale and "Lunch at Cafe St. Paul",
St.
Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
July 17–"A Hye Summer Night V," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. Watch
for details.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major
events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PD
http://www.armeniafundusa.org/
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PD
http://www.hyecenter.com/
http://www.smarttix.com/
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
www.armeniafundusa.org
www.Hyecenter.com
www.smarttix.com
www.armenianprelacy.org
WWW.ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG

Armenia’s ‘Legendary Hospitality’: Will Armenia Become A Tourism Cen

ARMENIA’S ‘LEGENDARY HOSPITALITY’: WILL ARMENIA BECOME A TOURISM CENTRE?

Tert
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Head of Tourism Department at the Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresyan
agrees with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s idea that it is possible
to make Armenia a tourism centre, Apresyan stated during a press
conference today.

He even knows what aspects of the country and its people will make it
possible to make it a centre for tourism. The rich historical-cultural
heritage, the Armenian people’s traditions, the legendary hospitality,
the first state to adopt Christianity, the connection with Noy legend
are the characteristics which, according to Apresyan, will allow
Armenia to become a tourism centre.

According to Apresyan, the global economic slowdown hasn’t affected
tourism in Armenia; in fact, there has been a notable increase. From
January to September of the current year, 422,807 tourists visited
Armenia, compared to 399,691 last year. That is, there was an increase
of 5.8% this year. There is also a 0.12% rise in internal tourism.

In response to the surprise by some as to how Armenia can register an
increase during a global crisis when there is a decline in the rest
of the world, Apresyan stated that these numbers can be considered
not an increase, but maintenance.

It is interesting to note that Armenia’s leaders, wishing to make
Armenia a tourism centre, consider everything possible to make the
sector more attractive but not to make it more affordable. That is,
however much we speak about making Armenia a tourism centre, all of us
know that the tourism prices in Jermuk and Tsakhkadzor are affordable
only for a wealthy few.

Tert.am asked Apresyan what the state has done in order to mitigate
the price policy of tourism centres. As always, this time, too,
the department head first noted that the country cannot interfere
with the private sector’s pricing policy and then acknowledged that
in case of changes in pricing policy, it is also possible to attract
internal tourists.

Apresyan said what the state has to do in this matter is to
promote an increase in demand and to influence the pricing policy
indirectly. To this end, they met various companies in the tourism
sector and discussed the possibility of offering more affordable and
competitive packages.

Iran Conducts Large-Scale BBC Trainings

IRAN CONDUCTS LARGE-SCALE BBC TRAININGS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.11.2009 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Large scale BBC trainings are now taking place in
Khuzestan, south-west of Iran. The main stage of maneuvers envisaging
fighter bombing and shooting from "air-land" class rockets will kick
off today, General Naser Yakubi, commander of 4th military air base
of Dizful, told FARS news agency.

According to him, maneuvers are aimed at checking military equipment
as well as servicemen’s fighting capacities. They are organized by
the assistance of military air bases of Tehran and Shiraz with the
involvement of BBC IRI fighters of Tebriz, Busher, Hamadan and Dizful.

These are the second large-scale military trainings organized in the
country over the past two months. Unprecedented maneuvers of Guard
Corps rocket forces were organized late in September when various
types of Iranian rockets were launched for educational purposes.

ATHENS: Turkish Premier Seeks Dialogue

TURKISH PREMIER SEEKS DIALOGUE

eKathimerini
Nov 6 2009
Greece

Erdogan wants joint council set up to debate thorny issues, visiting
diplomat tells government

A letter sent to Prime Minister George Papandreou by his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposes the establishment of a
joint council involving the premiers and ministers of both countries
to debate key issues of bilateral concern such as the Cyprus problem,
tensions in the Aegean and illegal immigration, a top-ranking Turkish
diplomat revealed during a visit to Athens yesterday.

Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s minister for European Union affairs, was in
Athens to attend a conference on Ankara’s EU accession prospects
organized by the International Center for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS).

Bagis said Erdogan has expressed his interest in joint discussions with
Greek government officials on a range of issues. But Bagis himself
kept his cards rather close to his chest on issues of key concern to
Greece such as illegal immigration and the Cyprus problem, focusing
more on the topic of Ankara’s EU accession bid, due for evaluation
by the European Commission next month.

On the issue of Cyprus, Bagis noted that a settlement would be
"beneficial for all involved" but reiterated that Turkey would
only open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and aircraft
– in accordance with EU demands – if economic sanctions on the
Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus are lifted.

As for the problem of illegal immigration, Bagis avoided commenting
on the failure by Turkish authorities to honor a migrant repatriation
pact signed by Athens and Ankara in 2003, referring instead to the
arrests of smugglers that have been made on Turkish soil.

Nevertheless Bagis said he believed Erdogan’s initiative would spur
dialogue and could possibly lead to progress on longstanding problems.

"These days we discuss everything in Turkey, things that had been
taboo in the past," Bagis said, referring to a pact signed between
Turkey and Armenia last month to restore diplomatic ties.

In a related development yesterday, Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news
agency said that Erdogan was planning an official visit to Greece
but that a date had yet to be set.

ANCA: US Administration Has To Protest Against Sudan President’s Upc

ANCA: US ADMINISTRATION HAS TO PROTEST AGAINST SUDAN PRESIDENT’S UPCOMING VISIT TO TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2009 18:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
voiced the Armenian American community’s strong support for a human
rights statement, issued earlier today by a coalition of anti-Darfur
Genocide groups, calling upon the Obama-Biden Administration to
protest the upcoming state visit to Turkey of Sudan’s President,
indicted war-criminal Omar al-Bashir. The four organizations
joining together in making this declaration, the Center for American
Progress, Enough!, Save Darfur, and Genocide Intervention Network,
referencing al-Bashir’s upcoming visits to Ankara and Cairo, stressed
the importance of President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton
engaging in personal diplomacy at the highest level to ensure that a
wanted war criminal does not continue to travel with impunity to the
capitals of key U.S. allies. The failure to do so, they noted, would
"send a powerful message that the Administration isn’t serious about
implementing the Sudan strategy it just announced."

"We want to thank each of these organizations for their work in
demanding clear and determined American leadership in ending the
Darfur Genocide," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

"There is today, sadly, no more striking example of how the brutal
cycle of genocide and denial feeds upon itself than the growing
diplomatic and military relationship between Turkey and Sudan."

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is scheduled to visit Turkey next
week to attend a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC.) Turkish officials announced yesterday that they would not
act on an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued
against al-Bashir for war crimes.

The Ankara and Khartoum regimes have grown markedly closer over the
past two years, with Turkey continuing to supply lethal weaponry to
Sudan and increased trade between two the countries.

Armenian NGOs Call For Withdrawing Amended Draft Law "On Public Orga

ARMENIAN NGOS CALL FOR WITHDRAWING AMENDED DRAFT LAW "ON PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS"

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 5, American University’s (AUA) Business
Center hosted public discussion over the bill on making changes in,
and amendments to, RA law "On Public Organizations". Discussion
was organized upon the initiative of AUA Provost and Vice President
Lucig Danielian, expert of public organizations’ initiative group
Arsen Stepanyan, lawyer Tachat Ter-Stepanyan and Armenian public
sector representatives.

In his speech, Arsen Stepanyan criticized the draft law, noting that
it received Government’s approval and was sent to Parliament without
public discussions. He called for withdrawing the bill and starting
discussions between Government and public sector.

With regard to separate clauses contained in draft law, he pointed out
the unacceptability of imposing on NGOs obligation to submit report to
social security fund (in addition to Tax Service) and get it printed
in newspapers which have no less than 1000 copies. The latter, he
said, creates additional financial burden for organizations. "Such
reports should reflect all the activities of organization, changes
in its management structure and financial resources of past year,"
Stepanyan stressed.

In addition he said that proposed changes are difficult to bring to
life, since Armenia has 6 thousand public organizations, which will
be unable to submit January-March reports and get them published in
papers. "It follows from here that newspapers that day should publish
more 100 NGO reports," expert noted.

Culture Of Consuming Information – On A Low Level In Armenia

CULTURE OF CONSUMING INFORMATION – ON A LOW LEVEL IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Very often, people in Armenia trust unreliable
foreign sources rather than local media," Deputy Head of Armenian
Public Relations Association Arman Saghatelyan said.

To avoid such sources’ influence on public in information
war circumstances, Sagatelyan emphasized journalists’ role and
professionalism which may help society distinguish between information
and disinformation. "Secondly, it is necessary to disallow publication
of low quality analytical works which also produces a negative impact
on Armenian society’s culture of consuming information," he noted.

Saghatelyan also stressed the importance of not confusing journalism
with information warfare since these are different spheres with
different methodologies and mechanisms. "It would be good if our
journalists were aware of such mechanisms to be able to differentiate
reliable information from propaganda," he stressed.

With regard to Armenian media’s current situation, Deputy Head of
Association noted that over the past year the number of Armenian Web
sites has increased by 5-6 times, while the number of satellite TV
channels has increased from 1 to 3. "That’s a fair example that we
are making progress in the sphere," Saghatelyan added.

RA NAS President: Communication With Armenian Nation Will Allow Turk

RA NAS PRESIDENT: COMMUNICATION WITH ARMENIAN NATION WILL ALLOW TURKS TO DISCOVER HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 18:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenia-Turkey rapprochement protocols signed in
Zurich stipulate for creation of 10-12-subdivision interparliamentary
committee. Creation of a committee will promote development of
bilateral relations. Still, I’m confident Armenia must not enter into
discussions on 1915 Armenian Genocide -related historical facts,"
the President of RA National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosyan
said at November 4 news conference.

He also noted that Genocide issue is on Armenia-Turkey negotiations’
priority list. "The fact of Genocide is unquestionable. This is the
reason we must not participate in discussions. I protest against
historical study of Armenian Genocide," Martirosyan emphasized.

According to him, communication with Armenian nation will allow
Turks to discover hidden truth about the Genocide, and radically
alter Armenia-Turkey relations as a result.

No Territorial Concession Admissible In Karabakh Settlement Process

NO TERRITORIAL CONCESSION ADMISSIBLE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2009 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Official Sepanakert has received no document
enshrining Madrid Principles," Head of NKR Government’s Information
Department Hrant Aleksanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Aleksanyan also confirmed NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan’s
statement on Artsakh territories’ being enshrined in Constitution
and territorial concessions’ being out of the question. Head of
Information Department also reiterated Premier’s statement on Nagorno
Karabak’s actively implementing various economic programs on liberated
territories, repairing the irrigation system, water reservoirs and
roads. All those programs aim at "creating favorable conditions for
repopulating the territories," he said.

In the meantime, Aleksanyan added that repopulation and economic
programs were more actively implemented in Kashatagh and Karvachar
regions.