Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

DARK HISTORY, SUFFOCATING LOVE AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD
Robert Colvile reviews The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

The Daily Telegraph, UK
Aug 2 2007

Over the years, I’ve read a few modern novels that could be described
as criminally bad – but The Bastard of Istanbul is the first that’s
got its author put on trial. Elif Shafak’s crime was to use, or
rather have her characters use, words such as "genocide" in relation
to the pogrom against the Armenians that accompanied the dawn of
the Turkish state. This, under Turkey’s nationalistic legal code,
was tantamount to denigrating Turkishness, although Shafak avoided a
three-year jail sentence when the judge dismissed the case for lack
of evidence. (Shafak was heavily pregnant during the trial.)

If it is shocking that authors can be put on trial for what they
write (as has happened to many other writers and journalists in
Turkey, most famously Orhan Pamuk), it is also oddly appropriate,
given the subject of this novel. The central question in The Bastard
of Istanbul is whether it is best to disinter the past, with all the
trauma and pain that entails, or cut ourselves off from it. It is a
dilemma personified by two girls just emerging from their teens –
Asya, the illegitimate Turkish child of the title, and Armanoush,
an Armenian-American whose divorced mother took up with a Turk –
Asya’s uncle – mostly to spite her former in-laws.

advertisement Both girls are smothered by the suffocating love of
their respective clans (Asya’s aunts, especially, are "a pack of
female animals forced to live together"). But they differ over their
attitude to the past.

Armanoush, seeking to explore her Armenian identity and confront the
Turkish oppressors, makes a daring trip to Istanbul.

Asya, with a blank space where a father should be, prefers not to
explore her roots. Each attitude is reflected more widely: Armanoush
is egged on by a crew of embittered Armenian message-board buddies
from the US, whereas Asya’s friends in Istanbul’s Cafe Kundera can
offer sympathy but not remorse for the fate of the Armenians.

All this talk of history and identity might suggest that this is
a rather po-faced novel. In fact, Shafak is a sprightly author,
generous with the comic touches – I particularly liked the San
Francisco restaurant in which the dishes are arranged to resemble
great Expressionist paintings. Indeed, the narrative is laced with
a mouthwatering appreciation of food.

The atmosphere is rich and slightly off-kilter: the story of the
Armenians’ expulsion is narrated by Armanoush, but confirmed to
Asya’s soothsayer aunt by the djinn who sits on her shoulder. When
Armanoush says of her trip to Turkey that she feels "like I am in a
Gabriel García Marquez novel", the sensation is familiar.

Towards the end, the novel swings from the political to the personal,
as Shafak reveals buried secrets and unexpected ties between the two
families, both of which feel rather cliched. Things aren’t helped by
the re-entry into the narrative of Rose, Armanoush’s mother, who is a
caricature of the insular American – the kind of woman who will take
a cactus-shaped bottle of Mexican sauce to Istanbul in case the food
isn’t any good.

But this is still an engrossing novel, and one can only hope that
its author’s courage in tackling this subject, and defending herself
from an unmerited prosecution, will hasten the abandonment of an
unconscionable taboo.

–Boundary_(ID_YUS/YMTDYNsfpseXm4+Msg)–

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS DISCUSS FURTHER ACTIVITIES IN KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 1 2007

YEREVAN, August 1. /ARKA/. RF Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander
Grushko held a meeting with Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier
(France), Matthew Bryza (USA), as well as with Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrej Kasprzic (Poland).

The official website of the RF Foreign Office reports that the
Co-Chairs met in Moscow to hold consultations.

The meeting participants discussed the current issues of the OSCE MG
Co-Chairs’ activities in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as well
as further efforts toward the settlement of the conflict. P.T. -0–

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

 
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY URGES CONTINUED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION AT ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
July 27, 2007 Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY URGES CONTINUED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ON THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE RESOLUTION AT ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC

Farmington Hills, MI – The Armenian Assembly’s Great Lakes Regional
Council held its fifth annual picnic in Farmington Hills, Michigan on
July 15. Area supporters came to enjoy the festivities while gaining a
better understanding of the current issues affecting the
Armenian-American community.

Assembly Member Edmond Azadian, who had recently returned from
Armenia, briefed participants on the parliamentary elections held
there last month, while Associate Grassroots Director Taniel
Koushakjian provided an update on the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H. Res. 106). The legislation, pending in the House of
Representatives, currently has 221 cosponsors, while its Senate
counterpart, S. Res. 106 has 30 cosponsors. Koushakjian stressed the
importance of taking an active role in issues critical to Armenia as
well as the Armenian-American community by contacting their
representatives and urging them to support Armenian issues.

Koushakjian also reviewed the Assembly’s recent successes on Capitol
Hill, and explained the importance of congressional testimony
submitted before a key House Appropriations Subcommittee, addressing
U.S. policy priorities.

Additionally, he highlighted the Assembly’s 35th Anniversary Gala, of
which the Assembly is hosting a series of events across the country to
celebrate the anniversary year and build momentum for the two-day
celebration in Beverly Hills, California this fall. Koushakjian also
encouraged young professionals to attend events marking the 30th
anniversary of the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program, also
a feature of the National Gala event.

"We were deeply appreciative of the comments made by Edmond Azadian on
the recent elections in Armenia as well as Taniel Koushakjian’s
comments on the progress of H.R. 106 and the importance of community
activism," said Edgar Hagopian, chairman of the Assembly’s Great Lakes
Regional Council.

"Each year there is a greater response from the community is greater
to these gatherings, and I look forward to additional events around
the country leading up to the Gala celebration in California,"
Hagopian added.

The picnic was organized by Hagopian and Great Lakes Regional Council
Members Corinne Khederian, Paul Kulhanjian, Affiliate Member Shirley
Sarkisian, Affiliate Member David Terzibashian and Fellow Trustee
Madeline Thomasian.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###
NR#2007-086

LETTING THE OUTSIDE IN:FRESNO’S ARMENIAN CENTER STEEPED IN THE PAST, LOOKS TO FUTURE.
By Vanessa Colon

Fresno Bee, CA
July 26 2007

The old Armenian men gather as they have for years to socialize at
the Asbarez Club, the informal name of the Armenian Community Center
in Fresno.

They tease each other as they slam down playing cards or backgammon
chips and sip dark, strong Armenian coffee. A few of them reek of
the cigars or cigarettes they puff on the patio.

A century ago, men like these founded the club to honor the city’s
Armenian immigrant roots. In a new century, the club is trying to
reach a broader audience that can help it ensure its future.

The club has opened its cafeteria, serving authentic Armenian food,
to downtown Fresno’s lunch crowd. It is renting out its renovated
facilities for special events. The goal: to raise money the club
needs to open a new center when Fresno’s Armenian Town project is
complete. They think they’ll move in three years.

Raffi Santikian, a member of the Fresno chapter of the Armenian
Cultural Foundation, which runs the center, said the foundation spent
about $120,000 to renovate the building, including new wood floors,
a modern kitchen and ceiling repairs.

"We needed to renovate because we had plans to rent it out. The new
building will cost a fortune. … Now we opened it to anyone willing to
pay the price," said Edward Megerdichian, a member of the foundation.

In the past, the club has opened its cafeteria doors to outsiders,
but it didn’t advertise that fact. Now, it does.

Outside, there’s a sign that reads "Food to Go." Inside, brochures
advertise "Yeraz Armenian Cuisine" and the banquet hall.

Megerdichian said opening the club to the public won’t affect the
social activity of the old-timers.

Armen Dermenjian of Fresno said he doesn’t mind if the doors of the
club are wide open. Dermenjian enjoys seeing non-Armenian-Americans
visit the place.

"They will have to learn our games," Dermenjian jokes.

He said he also understands that the club has to make money to pay
the bills.

The community center dates to 1904, but the name Asbarez Club was
taken from an Armenian newspaper founded in 1908. The club kept the
name even after the newspaper moved to the Los Angeles area in the
early 1970s. "Asbarez" means "arena" or "forum" in English.

The social club moved several times before settling in the 1980s at
its current location on the 2300 block of Ventura Avenue, near Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.

Eventually, the club intends to move to new quarters on the same
block where the Valley Lahvosh Baking Co. sits on M Street.

Today, the club is still a place where you hear chatter in Armenian and
political discussions on such things as the congressional resolution
that would describe as genocide the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians
by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.

Most of the card players were born in Lebanon, Egypt and other
countries in the Middle East. But many members of the foundation are
Armenian-Americans born in the United States.

>From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., cigar-smoking men drink tiny cups of Armenian
coffee at the patio. After playing belote, a French card game, some
of them step inside and join the nonsmokers for lunch.

The menu varies day to day, with a few American dishes but mostly
featuring Armenian cuisine. One recent Thursday, it was dolmas,
stuffed grape leaves and a yogurt sauce. Prices range from $2 for a
burger to $10 for a shish kebab plate.

Ben Raya of Fresno, one of the few non-Armenians in the cafeteria,
said he comes every day for lunch. Raya works at a car wash in Fresno.

"It’s the only place you can come and enjoy Armenian food and you
can sit and relax. I come six times a week. … It’s a very friendly
community," Raya said.

But most of the regulars are a revolving cast of Armenian men who
come to play, chat or to get away from home.

Last week, Manas Saghdejian, 69, of Raisin City settled in to a game of
cards with three others. He slammed down a playing card at the patio,
trumping another player.

"I’m going to take him out," Saghdejian joked. Zavan Vartanian of
Fresno responded with an ace of spades, banging his 67-year-old
knuckles on the table as a counterpoint.

Vartanian said he enjoys the card games as an escape from home.

"If I fight with my wife, I come here. In the morning, she said,
‘Wash the dishes.’ I said, ‘Goodbye," Vartanian said with a stern face.

An hour later, most of the smokers trek inside to order lunch.

Saghdejian, one of the men who entered the cafeteria, doesn’t expect
much will change as the club reaches out to the wider community,
or even when it moves to a new building.

The old-timers will still hang out together, he said.

"Without us, it won’t be Armenian town."

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MET IN TBILISI

armradio.am
26.07.2007 12:57

On July 25 in Tbilisi RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
his Georgian counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. The Foreign Ministers
of neighbor countries discussed issues of the bilateral agenda,
cooperation in the economic, political and cultural spheres.

The interlocutors discussed regional issues, the relations with
neighbors and referred to the cooperation within international
organizations.

Teh Ministers also turned to the negoiations on the agrmeent on
demarcation of teh Armenian-Georgian border.

Speaking about the perspectives of resolution of conflicts in the
region, Minister Oskanian presented the process of democratization in
Nagorno Karabakh and the latest developments in the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict. Gela Bezhuashvili presented the approaches
of the Georgian side on the Abkhazian conflict.

ATTEMPTED MURDER PLANNED AGAINST ARMENIAN AND GREEK PATRIARCHES OF TURKEY REVEALED

Noyan Tapan
Jul 26, 2007

ANKARA, JULY 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Plans of attempted
murder directed against Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, the Armenian
Patriarch of Constantinople, Greek Patriarch Bardughimeos, as well
as businessman Ishak Alaton were discovered in the computer of Bekir
Ozturk, the detained Chairman of the Turkish National Army union.

The Daily Zaman, citing the "Gazeteport" internet site, writes that the
members of the National Army union were going to bring their plans to
life in case of the victory of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
or another member of the Justice and Development ruling party in the
presidential elections of the Turkey.

After the revelation of the plans of the above-mentioned union a
message was sent to the Administration of National Security in order
to provide security for the Armenian and Greek Patriarches, as well
as for the businessman by the Prosecutor’s Office.

It should be mentioned that Bekir Ozturk was put under arrest as
a result of the investigation implemented with regard to the cases
of Umraniye. A great quantity of ammunitions was discovered by the
collaborators of the Security Service in one of the houses in the
Umraniye region in Istanbul a month ago.

FIRE DESTROYS 4 HECTARES OF FOREST IN KAPAN REGION

ARMENPRESS
Jul 24, 2007

KAPAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: Four hectares of pristine forest burnt
down yesterday near a section of an alternative road being built
to connect the town of Kapan with Meghri in Syunik, Armenian rescue
service said today.

The service said the fire erupted at 10 pm July 23 and was extinguished
only next morning at 11 am.

Officials are investigating what could cause the fire.

"THE LATER KARABAKH CONFLICT IS SETTLED THE LESS WE SHALL BENEFIT"

A1+
[04:32 pm] 23 July, 2007

"The NKR presidential elections come to prove that the NKR is a more
democratic country than Armenia," All-Armenian Party member Aram
Manukyan said at the "Hayeli" Club on July 23.

His opponent was Republican Gagik Manasyan, the Chair of the NA
Standing Committee on Financial-Credit.

According to Aram Manukyan the NKR presidential elections were held
successfully without major incidents. "I wish the figures weren’t
fabricated, and Karabakh had so many residents," Aram Manukyan said.

It is noteworthy that Aram Manukyan supported Bako Sahakyan’s
candidature.

He stated election frauds were namely apparent during the pre-election
period. The administrative levers were abused; even the district heads
were instructed to support Bako Sahakyan who enjoyed the authorities’
support to the full.

The successful conduct of the NKR elections ensures favorable
conditions for the Karabakh conflict resolution.

"Arkadi Ghukasyan can live in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic without
further fear. Whereas Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan cannot
stay in Armenia after the upcoming presidential elections," said Aram
Maunkyan. His opponent Gagik Minasyan opposed to this statement. In
answer to Minasyan’s objection, Manukyan said, "We shall live and see."

Gagik Minasyan attended 10 electoral districts in the NKR and assured
that the figures correspond to the reality, 80% of eligible voters
participated in the elections.

As for European structures’ rough stance to the NKR elections,
Republican Minasyan said, "Their stance is quite logical as they
consider the NKR an Azeri territory. Besides, they think that the
Kosovo conflict is specific and cannot serve a precedent for other
conflicts," Minasyan said.

Aram Manukyan was of different opinion. He found it needless to
draw parallels between Kosovo and Karabakh. "The international
community supports Kosovo’s independence. Only Russia is against
it. We have no proponents in the Karabakh issue. The rough stance
of European structures is natural as Armenia follows Russia’s model
while announcing at different meetings that we endorse European
principles. In fact we consider European principles to be dogmas,"
Manukyan said.

"The later the Karabakh conflict is settled the less we shall benefit,"
Mr Manukyan concluded.

AZERBAIJANI ARMY LOSES ONE MORE SOLDIER

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 23 2007

Serviceman shot at his fellow soldier in a military unit of Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry in Aghdam, APA’s Karabakh bureau reports.

The Defense Ministry confirmed the fact. The Ministry’s press
service told the APA that the event happened as result of misuse
of the service gun. Still unnamed soldier shot at another soldier
Mirzayev Elkhan. Subsequently 20-year-old soldier drafted in July
2007 from Military registration and enlistment office of Kazakh died
at the scene.

Criminal case was launched on the fact.

CHINESE GOVERNMENT STATES READINESS TO ASSIST IN RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 23 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Liu Jianchao, a
representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that the
Government of China respect the independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and backs the resolutions of
the UN Security Council regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He
was commenting on the so-called ‘presidential elections’ held in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory under Armenian occupation.

China hopes that both sides will be able to find the right solution
to the conflict in line with international law. China is prepared to
continue constructive steps jointly with the international community
to resolve the conflict.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus broke
out in 1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against
Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven districts of the country
surrounding it. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories
have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (
Russia, France and USA) hold peaceful negotiations.