Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ANKARA SUR LA DEFENSIVE
by Laure Marchand
Le Figaro, France
03 octobre 2006
C’EST REPARTI pour un nouveau bras de fer diplomatique entre Paris et
Ankara. Vu de Turquie, le president francais a declenche le premier les
hostilites. “Chirac s’obstine : “reconnaissez le genocide armenien”,
titrait dimanche le quotidien populaire a grand tirage Sabah,
commentant ses propos tenus au cours de la visite d’Etat qu’il a
effectuee en Armenie. Au cours de sa conference de presse a Erevan
samedi, Jacques Chirac a etabli pour la première fois un lien entre la
reconnaissance par la Turquie du caractère genocidaire des massacres
contre les Armeniens et l’adhesion d’Istanbul a l’Union europeenne.
La Turquie qualifie toujours les tueries perpetrees sous l’Empire
ottoman de 1915 a 1917 de “pretendu genocide” et concède tout au
plus 500 000 morts de part et d’autre. Les declarations de Jacques
Chirac sur ce sujet très sensible n’ont pour l’instant pas provoque
de tolle generalise. Le premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, en
deplacement a Washington où il doit rencontrer George W. Bush lundi,
n’a pas encore reagi. Mais le discours d’Erevan risque de conforter
la Turquie dans la conviction qu’elle a d’etre prise en otage par la
politique interieure francaise. “Il s’agit d’un beau compliment pour
conquerir le coeur des Armeniens de France, considère placidement
Mehmet Dulger, president de la commission des Affaires etrangères
du Parlement turc. Nous en avons un peu marre d’etre sans arret
au milieu des enjeux electoraux.” Lobbying La prochaine echeance
arrive d’ailleurs le 12 octobre : les deputes francais se pencheront
a nouveau sur une proposition de loi socialiste visant a penaliser
la negation du genocide armenien. Les peines prevues vont jusqu’a un
an d’emprisonnement et 45 000 euros d’amende. Mehmet Dulger devait
arriver ce matin a Paris, a la tete d’une delegation parlementaire
chargee de contre-attaquer et “de tenter de convaincre les elus de
renoncer a cette loi”. Le groupe turc reprend son bâton de pèlerin
pour la deuxième fois cette annee : un voyage de lobbying avait deja
eu lieu en mai dernier lors du premier examen du texte, non soumis au
vote faute de temps. En exigeant d’Ankara la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien, le president francais pose un obstacle supplementaire a
l’entree de la Turquie dans l’Union europeenne.
Bruxelles n’a pas fait de cette demarche historique un critère
d’adhesion. Mais le sujet s’immisce de plus en plus frequemment dans
les negociations. Le Parlement europeen a adopte le 27 septembre un
rapport non contraignant sur la candidature turque et a retire in
extremis un paragraphe qui contenait une demande similaire. Recep
Tayyip Erdogan avait declare a cette occasion, “le match a commence,
il n’est pas question d’en changer les règles”.
–Boundary_(ID_gi3XmK02yx8N0h2 v0qaD/w)–

IDEA ITSELF IS NONSENSE
By Gegham Qyurumian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
The 3d Armenia-Diaspora-2006 forum set a main purpose of improving
rural infrastructures and stopping population flow from villages. The
idea to settle problems of the villages by reconstructing schools
and clinics is just a simple example of manifestation of the best
wishes. To prove the point I’ll remind of a number of slaughterhouses
in villages built on tens of thousand US dollars. When they were built
on Diaspora’s money and were officially opened officials trumpeted
that they were designed to bring relief to villagers. Absurdly enough,
agriculture representatives today ask each other if anyone has ever
seen a single calf in these slaughterhouses.
Those buildings doomed to idleness give a hint that a similar
fate awaits other rural infrastructures as it is not due to their
absence that rural residents leave the villages but due to absence
of necessary means to buy clothes and stationery for their children
to go to school. But there was no such item on the forum’s agenda. It
is the extremely low productivity of Armenian farmers’ work that puts
them on the edge of immigration.
The forum did not touch upon this situation but instead set a goal
of increasing the rural population by one in each village. Authors
of the project should be informed that in 15 rural communities out
of 24 selected growth of population has been recorded, according
to population census of 2001. According to the forum’s glamorous
“Eliminating Rural Poverty” magazine, Getik village of Gugharkunik
region, for one, has 530 residents whereas the census of 2001 has
counted 471 people. Jrap village of Shirak region in 2001 had a
population of 784 people, but according to the magazine this number
is 1051. This situation can be explained by the return of municipal
population to their roots to try to somehow keep body and soul together
in the village. It was necessary that the forum of powerful people
raised the issue of overcoming this situation.
Anyone acquainted with the very day life of Armenia will testify that
2/3 of goods that we consume is an import that reaches to 1 billion
USD. The interest of some of high-ranking officials to see a market
full of imports can be understood. But one cannot understand why the
officials neglect the possibility to solve country’s problems by the
work of Armenian farmers.

“JOURNALISTIC ORGANISATIONS ARE CONCERNED”
A1+
[12:16 pm] 26 September, 2006
The remarks and suggestions of Journalists’ Union, Yerevan Press
Club and “Internews” NGO on the draft amendments to the RA law on
“Television and Radio”
Taking into consideration the freedom of expression, media diversity
and their significant role in the society as well as the necessity
of establishing democratic, legal system, we present the following
observations; 1. Certain amendments to the bill, with the exception
of Article 21 referring to the appointment of the members to the
Nation Commission, are not in line with the motives of the draft
admission. Article 83.2 of the Constitution, according to which an
independent regulating body is formed by law to provide freedom of
mass media and diversity, cannot serve a convincing basis to endorse
such amendments.
On the other hand, the contents of Article 21 with its current
formulation doesn’t comply with the demands of Article 83.2 lest the
change of National Commission members according to the constitutional
demands are made clear. In fact, this is an attempt of avoiding
adjustment of the legislation to the constitutional amendments in
close future. Taking into account the fact that the current members
are appointed by the RA President, we suggest involving 8 members
elected by the National Assembly in the Commission. As a result of
this members will be elected equally by the RA President and by
the National Assembly. Besides, the demands of Article 11 of the
Constitution according to which “current members must hold their
posts by the time their term of office stipulated by the RA law on
“Television and Radio” has expired” will not be breeched. 2. We assume
that the attempt of the government to put the draft amendments on the
agenda of the national Assembly without holding public debates and
consultation with market representatives will have its side-effect
on the quality of the Law.
Besides, in comparison with the adopted democratic principles,
it merely ignores the opinion of civil society. We also think
that the annulation of the advertisement restrictions is a
real threat as it offers unequal conditions at the market of
advertisement. It is obvious that such amendments must be taken
into serious consideration. The interests of private TV Companies
and audience must be taken into consideration as well. 3. Reminder:
the bill doesn’t reflect the opinion of international organisations
and NGOs, a number of suggestions made on the legislation as well as
the provisions of consultations 96 (10) and 2000 (23) of the Council
of Europe. Finally, in regard of the absence of Commission’s freedom,
the draft amendments may strengthen the negative phenomena connected
with the sphere regulation and worsen the current situation.
We voice hope that the RA Government and National Assembly will take
into account our observations and suggestions and will hold mass
discussions on the bill.

STUDENTS CLEAN YEREVAN
Panorama.am
15:52 18/09/06
Frunzeh Basentsyan, construction, improvement and utilities
department head at Yerevan municipality, said 10,000 students,
21,000 schoolchildren took party on a subbotnik, September 16, a
cleaning day in Yerevan. Some 380 cars of garbage was transported to
Nubarashen disposal tip. Basentsyan praised the participants, saying,
“The subbotnik passed at a desired level.”
The municipality employee called all residents of Yerevan to keep the
city clean. Ignoring the collected garbage on the streets of Yerevan,
Basentsyan said “certain progress is registered in keeping the city
clean determined by new garbage cars.” The official also informed the
reporters that a garbage collection project plans to establish one or
two organizations which will conduct cleaning in the city. However,
Basentsyan said it will not be soon.

ARMINFO News Agency
September 12, 2006 Tuesday
AZERBAIJAN DID NOT ALLOW TO INVITE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF
ARMENIA TO FESTIVAL IN KARS
Yerevan September 12
The Municipality of Kars (Turkey) has not invited official
representatives of Armenia to the Sept 13-15 folk festival in Kars
after the protest of the Azeri public and mass media, Azeri Consul to
Kars Gasan Zeynalov says in an exclusive interview to APA.
Zeynalov says that he met with the Kars authorities and they promised
him to hold no discussions concerning the opening of the border
between Turkey and Armenia. “I told them that the opening of the
border is out of question for as long as Armenia has territorial
claims against Turkey and is carrying out occupant policy against
Azerbaijan,” says Zeynalov.
He says that during the previous 2nd festival the sides discussed the
problem of border opening but the Azeri representatives expressed
protest and left the meeting.
To remind, recently the Kars Mayor appeared with a statement about
the necessity of opening the border with Armenia.

FRANCE:”ARMENIA MY FRIEND”
Sept 21, 2006 – July 14, 2007
by Jean Eckian
Paris september 13, 2006
Yesterday, September 12, Philippe Douste Blazy, french Foreign
Minister and Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Minister to the Culture
and Communication, launched officially the “Year of Armenia” to
the course of press conference in the presence of their armenian
counterparts Hasmik Poghosyan, Minister to the Culture and the Youth
and Vartan Oskanian, Foreign Minister of Armenia. ” Armenia is close
and faraway, familiar and unknown. This is why this event constituted
a true challenge ” R. Donnedieu de Vabres said. Opportunity to recall
the intimate and old bonds linking France to Armenia and its people,
and also opportunity to make discover with French people the richness
of the Armenian culture and its 3000 years of History. Thus, more
than 500 artistic events and development of the Armenian heritage
will commemorate the friendship France – Armenia between September
21, 2006 (birthday of the Republic of Armenia) and July 14, 2007
(national day in France since the Revolution of 1789). Important
times of this exemplary testimony of friendship between the two
countries will be marked, september 29 by the visit of the french
President Jacques Chirac to Yerevan (1), with the inauguration of
the “Place of France” and the big Concert of Charles Aznavour, place
of the Republic, accompanied by its guests, of which the singer of
Quebec Linda Demay and the french singer star Patricia Kaas. Lastly,
to conclude this year to the festivities, the operation “Thousand
Ambassadors for Armenia”, 1000 children from Armenia will be invited
in France to learn the language of Moliere (french), thus giving to
its true direction to “Armenia my Friend”. France invested a budget
of 1,5 million Euros in this event to which are added the financial
participation of many Armenian associations of France.
–Boundary_(ID_ywd1U0R6PInGmpZ3Sz0APw)–

PATRIARCH KAREKIN CALLS TO COOPERATE WITH SYRIAN SCHOLAR
SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Sept 8 2006
YERIVAN, (SANA) – Patriarch of the Armenian Church Karekin II
underlined on Thursday importance of the current visit of the Republic
Mufti to Armenia.
“We have to seek cooperation and build ties among religions as well as
realize mutual understanding between representatives of religions,”
Patriarch Karekin said in a joint press conference with Mufti Sheikh
Ahmed Badre Eddin .
For his part, the Mufti underlined “peace is Syria’s strategic option”
saying we are in quest of realizing just and comprehensive peace in
the Middle East.
He emphasized the significance of bringing about a just solution for
the central cause of Palestine.
The Mufti denounced some forces linking of the terror phenomenon
with Islam saying, we must learn that practices perpetrated under
the religion’s name or under a nation’s name represent their doers
and not peoples; asserting that Syria was the first who suffered from
this rejected phenomenon.

EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS SET OFF IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, September 9. ArmInfo. One can deeply feel the heart of
Armenia and Europe only through familiarizing oneself with cultural
heritage. That’s why it is very much important to preserve own culture
and history for the generations to come, Special Representative of
CE Secretary General Bojana Urumova said, while opening the European
Heritage Day in the territory of Zvartnots Cathedral museum-reserve
(VII).
Urumova pointed out that such inter-state cooperation plays a big role
not only for preserving cultural-historical monuments but also for
involving youths from around the world in this work. Last year alone
over 20 mln people from 49 European states took part in this action
symbolizing the unity and deversity of common cultural heritage,
Urumova said.
During the days, on Sept 9-10 people will enjoy free access to all
Armenian museums. Besides, the Armenian Culture and Youth Ministry
will organize tours all over Armenia.

NKR GOVERNMENT TO REIMBURSE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY NATURAL DISASTERS
ArmRadio.am
09.09.2006 14:03
NKR Government has taken the decision to provide assistance to
those who suffered in the result of natural disasters, particularly
fires, ArmInfo reports. This year the heavy spring rains in Karabakh
were followed by summer drought and fires. According NKR Minister
of Agriculture Vahram Baghdasaryan, the amount o the damage was
concerning, and after detailed investigation the Government decided to
provide necessary assistance to farmers. In his words, it is envisaged
to provide 29 711 500 drams from the reserve fund of the Government.

DAVID CRUMM: ICONS OPEN NEW RELIGIOUS WORLDS
Free Press Columnist
Detroit Free Press, MI
Sept 9 2006
Free lectures to be given on Tuesday
This Madonna and child icon belongs to Bishop Nicholas Samra, a Melkite
Catholic clergyman who visited St. John Armenian Church recently.
Related articles:
~U If you go
~U Tell us what you think In our culture where image is everything,
local Orthodox and Catholic leaders are planning to showcase some of
the most powerful images human hands can create.
They’re icons, and it’s no coincidence that this ancient term for
sacred images also describes the little pictures on our computer
screens. At first glance, icons are merely pictures, but both kinds
of icons really are doorways to the forces hovering behind them.
In computers, icons open software from e-mails to databases. In
churches, icons are “visible images that open up the invisible world,”
said the Rev. Garabed Kochakian, an iconographer and the pastor of
St. John Armenian Apostolic Church in Southfield.
“Icons are channels, like windows to God,” added the Rev. Dimitrie
Vincent, pastor of St. Thomas Albanian Orthodox Church in Farmington
Hills. Like Kochakian, he is an artist as well as a priest.
The two were among nine religious leaders who met recently at St.
John to plan a joint icon showcase Tuesday at an Orthodox church
in Livonia.
“Icons really are symbols of what unites us as Christians,” Vincent
said last week.
Catholics also are getting more interested in them, said Michael
Hovey, an ecumenical adviser to Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida. “In the
past year, I’ve visited at least 60 of our Catholic parishes and I’m
impressed at the growing number that have icons,” Hovey said.
Dan McAfee, the director of Maida’s office for Christian worship,
said, “There was a time after our Second Vatican Council when people
were eager to clear out everything in our churches that might seem
extraneous. People removed lots of statues and paintings. But I think
people are realizing that, in some cases, we may have gone too far.”
The growing fascination with these strangely flat-looking images of
saints and biblical scenes may seem puzzling. The rest of the world’s
media are racing in other directions, like sending clips of movies
to the tiny screens of cell phones.
Antiquity is part of the allure of icons. Traditional Christian
stories say that the gospel writer St. Luke also painted icons.
Centuries-old tales of miracles surround many of them. But icons are
much more than history lessons.
After the meeting, Kochakian took guests to see a large icon that
he designed for a wall of his church. It’s a mosaic made of colored
glass and gold leaf, showing St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first
head of the Armenian Church about 1,700 years ago.
As guests approached the mosaic, they saw a tall, bearded man in red
robes standing before a snow-capped mountain in Armenia, holding a
model of a church. Then, as guests moved closer, they could see a
drama unfolding in the background. A fist seemed to emerge from the
sky, wielding a flaming hammer.
“In Armenian tradition, that’s the hand of Christ emerging to strike
the ground with a golden hammer to mark the location of our first
cathedral,” Kochakian said.
There was more: The saint’s eyes seemed to fix on viewers wherever
they stood, silently asking what each one thought of these images.
Such all-seeing eyes are the trademark of this sacred art, McAfee
said. “As you approach an icon, you find that, as much as you look
at the icon, the icon looks back out at you.”
The icon of St. Gregory was merely an arrangement of colored glass
and yet the saint’s eyes seemed alive with the question: So, what do
you think of this spiritual world?
Then, suddenly it dawned on at least this visitor: Our contemporary
fascination with asking for each person’s viewpoint on the spiritual
world is really as ancient a practice as icons themselves.