Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

ANATOLIA FACTS
Malay Mail, Malaysia
March 14, 2006 Tuesday
ANATOLIA (Turkish: Anadolu) is a region of Southwest Asia which
corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to the
European portion, Rumelia.
It means ‘rising of the sun’ or ‘East’.
The Turkish word Anadolu derives from the original Greek version.
It is also often called by its Latin name – Asia Minor.
Because of its strategic location at the intersection of Asia and
Europe, Anatolia has been a cradle for several civilizations since
prehistoric ages.
Major civilizations and peoples that have settled in or conquered
Anatolia include the Colchians, Hattians, Luwians, Hittites,
Phrygians, Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians, Celts, Tabals, Meshechs,
Greeks, Pelasgians, Armenians, Romans, Goths, Kurds, Byzantines,
Seljuk Turks, and Ottomans.
These peoples belonged to many varied ethnic and linguistic traditions.
Through recorded history, Anatolians have spoken both Indo-European and
Semitic languages, as well as many languages of uncertain affiliation.
Today the inhabitants of Anatolia are mostly native speakers of the
Turkish language, which was introduced with the conquest of Anatolia by
Turkic peoples and the rise of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century.
However, Anatolia remained multi-ethnic until the early 20th century.
The Turks in Thrace were forced to leave their homes and settle in
Anatolia during the Balkan Wars.
The last population exchange, as result of the Treaty of Lausanne,
between Turkey and Greece eliminated the majority of Turks in Greece
and Greeks in Turkey.
A significant Kurdish ethnic and linguistic minority exists in the
south eastern regions, while Armenians, whose numbers were greatly
reduced during the Armenian Genocide, have a waning presence in the
northeast and in cities.

‘WAR WILL ONLY BRING NEW SUFFERING’
Steven Mann Assures
AZG Armenian Daily
15/03/2006
“Though the Rambouillet meeting did not give a desirable result,
negotiations over peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
still carry on,” Azeri-Press news agency quoted US Minsk Group co-chair
Steven Mann as saying in Baku. Ruling out military settlement of the
dispute, Mann stated that the war will only bring new suffering and
producing no quick and lasting results.
“A side that views the war as a way out has to clearly understand its
outcomes, including the situation in the region and energy-related
issues,” Steven Mann said and added that it’s not the time for
speculating on the situation hinting at President Robert Kocharian’s
statement: “If talks prove unproductive, we’ll recognize Nagorno
Karabakh’s independence.”
The Minsk Group co-chair opined that neither side can get 100 percent
what it wants.

ARMENIA PRAISED FOR CLOSER SECURITY TIES WITH U.S.
Baku Today,
March 8 2006
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza praised
Armenia’s efforts to forge closer defense links with the United States
and discussed ways of boosting its “energy security” during a visit
to Yerevan on Tuesday.
“The reason I am here is that I want to do everything I possibly can to
strengthen the already strong collaboration between the United States
and Armenia,” Bryza told reporters after holding “very constructive”
talks with President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian leaders.
“We are working hard together to help Armenia to realize its desire to
have stronger relations with the Euro-Atlantic family. We are pleased
with the considerable progress made in this regard over past year,”
he said, singling out the signing of Yerevan’s “individual partnership
action plan” with NATO.
Bryza added that it is up to the Armenian leadership, which continues
to regard the military alliance with Russia as the bedrock of its
national security doctrine, to decide how far it wants to go in
deepening military cooperation with the West. “I don’t think that the
government of Armenia can move at a pace that for us is too quick,”
he said. “But we are very happy with the level of cooperation. This
has been a significant year for U.S.-Armenian security cooperation.”
The issue was high on the agenda of his separate meetings with
Kocharian, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. The U.S. official also had what he described as a
“very detailed and interesting discussion on energy security” with
Energy Minister Armen Movsisian and Armenian energy sector experts.
“The key to energy security for Armenia, as for any country, is
diversity. Armenia has a long and positive experience working with
Russian gas suppliers and that needs to continue,” he said.
Bryza went on to indicate that Washington is ready to help the
landlocked country reduce its heavy dependence on Russian energy
resources. But he stopped short of endorsing the Armenian government’s
decision to build a gas pipeline from Iran, the U.S.
arch-rival in the region. “The United States, like the entire
international community, is not in favor of any steps that will lead
to significant expansion of Iran’s ability to project economic or
any other type of power,” he said.
Bryza argued in that regard that diversification of Armenia’s energy
resource supplies relates to “not just natural gas but other types
of energy as well, which is hydro power …, geothermal power as well
as potentially a new generation of nuclear power.”
The remark suggests that the U.S. does not object to the Armenian
government’s extremely ambitious plans to build a new nuclear
power station in place of the Metsamor plant, which is due to be
decommissioned by 2016. Movsisian and other Armenian energy officials
admitted last week that they will need at least $1 billion in foreign
investments to put the project into practice.
Also, Bryza pointedly avoided any criticism of the Kocharian
administration’s democracy and human rights record, speaking instead
of the need for ordinary Armenians to develop a “culture of democracy”
and urging the Armenian opposition to operate “constructively.”
“We hope over the next few months and years to use all of our
assistance levers to build democracy not only from the top down but
most importantly from the bottom up,” Bryza said, adding that the
U.S. considers Armenia to be a “democratizing country.”
The Bush administration approved recently $235.6 million in additional
economic assistance to Armenian under its Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) program, saying that the Armenian authorities have
addressed U.S. concerns about their commitment to democracy and good
governance. That commitment was most recently called into question by
their handling of last November’s disputed constitutional referendum.
Bryza further declined to confirm or refute reports that the U.S.
ambassador in Yerevan, John Evans, will be recalled soon over his
public recognition last year of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians
in Ottoman Turkey as a genocide. The Bush administration and the
State Department distanced themselves from Evans’s remarks at the
time, insisting that they did not signal any change in U.S. policy
on the issue.
“He, like all of us, serves at the pleasure of the president of the
United States,” Bryza said, sitting next to Evans. “It’s up to the
president to make his own decisions, including on personnel.”
“The fact of the matter is that I do not know when I will be leaving
Armenia and I have not submitted by retirement papers,” Evans said
for his part.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GLO: “BUDAPEST COURT INTENDS TO PUNISH RAMIL SAFAROV AT BEHEST OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Today Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) issued a statement
concerning about Azerbaijani Army officer Ramil Safarov’s trial in
Budapest. GLO told APA that the court has a biased stance and didn’t
take the motives of the murder into account.
The statement reads that acceptance of the 4th forensic medical
examination, which was far from objectivity, and ignorance of the two
examinations is illegality but nothing. All of these have been done
at the behest of Armenian government to give the worst punishment to
Ramil Safarov.
GLO also blamed the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living
Abroad for the plight.
“The government didn’t take the required measures promptly; potential
of Diasporas was not used efficiently. On the contrary, irresponsible
statement s of the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living
Abroad prevented our Diasporas for any action. Despite the actions of
Armenian organizations, our Diaspora remained apart from the actions”.
In the statement GLO demanded Hungarian government to refrain from
the position formed under Armenian pressure.
“GLO will not forgive the injustice against Azerbaijani citizens
and will demand suspension of any relations between Azerbaijan and
Hungary”.

US EMBASSY TO RA CALLS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS NOT TO VISIT SEVERAL
REGIONS OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MARCH 10.ARMINFO. US Embassy to Armenia calls for the
American citizens not to visit several regions of Armenia that border
on Azerbaijan.
According to the statement provided to ARMINFO by the Embassy, it is
not recommended to travel on Ijevan-Noyemberian road between Kirants
and Woskevan dwelling places. The statement is condictioned by the
fact that numerous cases of ceasefire violations were fixed during the
last few years in the given part of the border.
Besides, the Embassy warns its citizens against trips out of the main
cities of Armenia. The night and winter trips are not recommended,
either.

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 11 2006
Armenian Population Of Akhalkalaki Raided Buildings Of Local
Administration, Court And University
Tbilisi. March 11 (Prime-News) – Armenian population of Akhalkalaki
raided buildings of local administration, Court and branch of Tbilisi
State University on Saturday.
Participants of the action gathered regarding the murder, which
happened on March 09, and named a murder of Gevork Gevorkyan, 24, an
ethnic opposition.
Later they demanded to allow using Armenian language in office work
in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, most part of which is Armenian
population.
They also stated that education process in Akhalkalaki branch of
TbilisiStateUniversity should be held on Armenian language.
Participants of the action also tried to enter the building of
Akhalkalaki Patriarchy of Georgia, as according to them there was
ammunition in large amount.
Representatives of the Patriarchy met several participants of the
action who ascertained that there was no ammunition.
Representatives of the Samtskhe-Javakheti regional Police stated that
the situation is under control.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
March 11 2006
Vardan Oskanian “Military solution of Karabakh conflict ruled out”

11 March 2006 [17:18] – Today.Az

Armenia’s Foreign Minister ruled out Saturday a military solution for
Nagorno Karabakh.

“Azerbaijan must realize that the problem cannot be resolved other
than by peaceful means. The military option is ruled out. Azerbaijan
will not be able to intimidate the Armenian side or force it to
change its position,” Vardan Oskanyan said in an interview with the
Armenian TV company Shant.
He said Azerbaijan was not ready for war.
“If the Azerbaijani side is not ready or will not risk resolving the
problem through simple compromise, it will never risk using force,”
the minister said.
Earlier, Oskanyan reiterated Armenia’s position that Nagorno
Karabakh’s right to self-determination was crucial for a peace
settlement, RIA Novosti reports.

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“NEW COOPERATION PROSPECTS” TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE HELD ON MARCH 17-19 IN TSAKHKADZOR
Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. “New Cooperation Prospects” training
program will be held on March 17-19 in Tsakhkadzor with participation
of 18-30-year-old young people. The program is implemented by the
Center for Organization of Youth Events, within the framework of the
“Conference of Youth NGOs” program. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Center for Organization of Youth Events of RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Affairs, subjects regarding youth policy, cooperation between
youth structures and media, information and consultation, working out
and implementation of joint youth programs will be discussed during
the program.

MANN DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH AZERI LEADERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2006 01:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received
US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, on March 13. A
number of questions regarding Armenian-Azeri talks over settlement
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were discussed at the meeting.
The same day Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmar
Mammadyarov, met with US Ambassador Steven Mann.
At the end of the meeting Mann stated that they discussed the peaceful
solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and considered the meeting
“very productive”.
“We exchanged opinions with Elmar Mammadyarov over settlement of the
Karabakh issue and a number of other questions,” Mann remarked. He
also added that he was going to Baku airport to welcome US Assistant
Secretary of State Daniel Fried, who will also meet with the Azeri FM,
APA reports.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 17, 2005
___________________
ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE REPRESENTED AT WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES BY
EASTERN DIOCESAN LEGATE
Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), recently attended a meeting of
U.S. religious leaders to map out goals and objectives for an upcoming
global ecumenical gathering.
The Diocesan legate is one of 13 people appointed by the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin to represent the Armenian Church at the upcoming 9th
assembly of the World Council of Churches in Brazil this February.
In preparation for that meeting, Bishop Aykazian met with more than 150
American religious leaders in Chicago, IL, from October 10 to 12. The
leaders represented a majority of the member churches of the National
Council of Churches (NCC).
“At the meeting we discussed how we should represent the American-based
churches at the World Council of Churches assembly,” said Bishop
Aykazian, who is active in a variety of ecumenical organizations on
behalf of the Eastern Diocese. “We asked, what will our contribution be
and what will be the lessons to be learned from this assembly?”
Bishop Aykazian identified several subjects that interested the gathered
religious leaders in Chicago: problems in the Middle East; combating HIV
in Africa; fighting Islamist terrorism; and the genocide in Sudan. The
last point is something the Armenian Church has been involved with for a
while.
“These are all problems that concern human beings, so we have certain
responsibilities to help. It is the mission of the church to help the
powerless, the poor, the afflicted, the diseased, the sick, the
homeless. It is the main mission of the church,” he said. “And in the
Sudan they have suffered tragic genocide. We know there is a genocide
taking place and it is a continuing genocide and we have to help. But
our church, we as a people, understand more than anyone, because we have
suffered through a genocide.”
At the end of the conference in Chicago, Bishop Aykazian led a prayer
service with a priest from the Orthodox Church of America, an act that
shows the importance the ecumenical movement places on the participation
of Orthodox churches — the Armenian Church in particular.
“I’m very pleased that, thanks to the work of Bishop Vicken, the
Armenian Church has become a leading voice in the ecumenical movement in
the United States and around the globe,” said Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese.
— 10/17/05
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