Author: Zakarian Garnik

Arabisto.com, FL
Aug 25 2007

FM Gul, PM Erdogan & the Presidential Palace of Fame: The Latest Spin
Stories for Media

August 25, 2007 01:40 PM

All eyes focused on the presidential election again this week in
Turkey and what it means for Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. With the
shake-out of the Prime Minister’s poorly spoken words to Gul’s
dissenters, the PM’s untimely words give way to the media basking in
ways to spin yet another insignificant story.

Getting approval and seeking consensus in Turkey creates curiosity
and suspicion at the same time. On the one hand, law provides for
Parliament to vote three times on a candidate which I guess gives
them plenty of

time to herd others into the fold before the final vote.

Gul failed in the second round again, but this final vote will pull
out the stops next week. Will a political crisis occur or a military
takeover?

On the other hand, I wonder why the media doesn’t address some of the
real issues involved in this election or a myriad of other concerns
facing the Turkish public.

Certainly, the PM should be called on the carpet for his remarks that
"anyone who says Gul cannot be president should give up their Turkish
citizenship," but really, isn’t this just another off-handed remark
which the PM forged in history past?

While FM Gul waits for this week’s vote to award him the presidency,
the media may be cooking up a list of more trivial issues to focus on
while PM Erdogan plays his mea culpa card.

Maybe the media will cast doubt upon the future Mrs. President and
her turban remodeling efforts or her court case where she sued Turkey
in European Court of Human Rights, hmmm. At least she is concerned
about her appearance on the world stage and should fit in well with
the Turkish elite.

So exactly who’s humoring who here? Do the media ask what Mrs. Gul
can offer the country by being the First Lady of Turkey? I can’t say
that I have ever read one story about the incumbent First Lady, Mrs.
Sezer. I want to know what the new First Lady will offer to Turkey.
Will her forum be about education, poverty, crime, family values?
Maybe she’s covering her head, but silence isn’t her virtue. Let’s
ask.

If we ask what her pet projects will be, should we not ask the new
President as well? What does he plan to do while sitting in the White
House, excuse me, the Cankaya House? Does he plan to put his
footprint on his time in the Turkish presidential seat, or mark time
with no impact at all?

I expect that Peace should be on the agenda. Recently, Turkey has
volunteered to be the peace brokers of the region and rightly so.
While Turkey may have many wounds and warts, they are the only viable
democracy in the region to include the cast of former Soviet states
and the only country to manage peace for decades.

Of course, no serious discussion about the issues would be complete
without mentioning the Armenian Genocide. This concern hangs heavy on
many heads here in Turkey, and at the same time, seems to always
tarnish Turkey. Will someone finally step up to the plate and prove
beyond reasonable that it was or was not genocide?

Mrs. Gul is educated maybe she wants to arm-wrestle with this
controversial issue and lead a group of scholars and historians to
broker a deal on the controversy.

We should not forget, though, that Turkey did invite Armenia to
establish a joint commission about this World War I argument, and
this is as good a time as any to finally flesh out the answers to
this question. Armenia, are you willing to reveal yourself?

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Kurdish war on terror in
eastern Turkey. Do we stand at the border and watch militants cross
into Turkey from Iraq or does Turkey march past their borders? Should
Turkey force a showdown with American diplomats or wait it out to see
what happens?

Is Turkey viable enough to clean up this problem and let eastern
Turkey develop and contribute to the rest of society or leave them in
poverty-ridden desolation which experiences killings on a daily
basis?

And if I haven’t raised enough heads yet, should I even mention that
the media keeps silent about deals negotiated with a Russia who has
been noticed for beating their chests as the next king of the world?

Tell me, after this presidential election, will Turkey step up to the
plate by resolving long-standing issues and create some peace and
harmony within their own borders for their own people? Let’s wait and
see.

Last update – 13:12 26/08/2007
Peres to Turks: Our stance on Armenian issue hasn’t changed By Barak
Ravid<[email protected]>,
Haaretz Editorial

Israel has not changed its position on the killing of 1.5 million Armenians
during World War I, President Shimon Peres assured the Turkish prime
minister last week.

On Tuesday, the Anti-Defamation League announced that it considered the
massacres to be genocide. It apologized for putting the Turkish people in a
"difficult position" in a letter this weekend, the Turkish media reported.

In his conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Peres
reiterated the Israeli position that Turkey and Armenia should resolve the
dispute on the nature of the killings through dialogue. Jerusalem is careful
not to refer to the killings as a genocide.

Following the ADL’s statement, Turkey was feeling "disappointed with its
friends," Erdogan said. President Peres told the Turkish prime minister that
Israel does not control U.S. Jewish organizations, which pursue their own
agendas.

Foreign Ministry sources told Haaretz that they believe that Peres’ efforts
and the calming actions of the Israeli embassy in Ankara have helped ease
tensions over the ADL’s statement.
The Turkish media reported over the weekend that ADL President Abraham
Foxman sent Erdogan a letter stating the ADL has "utmost respect for the
Turkish people."

"We had no intention to put the Turkish people or its leaders in a difficult
position. I am writing this letter to you to express our sorrow over what we
have caused for the leadership and people of Turkey in the past few days,"
Foxman’s letter reportedly read.

Source:

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE AMOMG GUESTS AT MATTHEW BRYZA’S WEDDING

Noyan Tapan
Aug 24, 2007

ISTANBUL, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian was among guests at the
wedding of Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs, US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
and Zeyno Baran, Director of Hudson Institute’ Center for Eurasian
Policy, in Istanbul on August 23, the Turkish press reported.

Among 300 guests invited to the wedding were Azerbaijan’s foreign
minister Elmar Mamedyarov, Turkish minister of energy Hilmi Guler,
the deputy chairman of the opposition Republican People’s Party Onur
Oymen and others.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
August 22, 2007

Order of St. Sahak – St. Mesrop Bestowed upon Dr. Haroutune Armenian,
President of the American University of Armenia

On Saturday, August 18, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, bestowed the Order of Saint Sahak – Saint
Mesrop to the President of the American University of Armenia, Dr. Haroutune
Armenian, in recognition of his numerous pedagogical and societal
contributions.  The award ceremony took place in the Pontifical Residence of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Welcoming the guests to Holy Etchmiadzin, Rev. Fr. Asoghik Karapetian opened
the event for the evening.  Mrs. Anahit Ordyan, Director of Administration
of AUA, presented biographical notes and personal highlights from the life
of Dr. Armenian.

The Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was processed
into the room as the clergymen and seminarians sang the hymn of
Etchmiadzin.  Thereafter, it was read to all of the assembled guests by His
Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See.

The Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II states in part, "For many decades,
you have served the field of healthcare with diligent devotion, taking upon
yourself countless positions of responsibility in medical and educational
institutions in Armenia, Lebanon, Oman, Germany, Iraq and many other
countries.  Your manifold academic and scientific publications, dedicated to
the research and study of timely healthcare issues, have been widely
received and greatly assessed by specialists and professionals, and have
been published in various countries.  …The many successes you have enjoyed
as a result of your devoted and tireless efforts have also brought
recognition to our native Motherland and our faithful people.

"As President of the American University of Armenia, you contribute your
rich experience and abilities with great energy, so that the university will
continue to educate and prepare professionals of the highest order.  The
future generation of scholars produced under your care will undoubtedly
bring their important participation to the prosperity and vibrancy of our
Homeland through their lives and works, maintaining the high reputation and
status of Armenian science.  Your life and activities provide an excellent
example for the students of the university, showing them the path to serve
the scientific and academic progress of our country and aspiring for success
through unceasing and steadfast labors.

"We have also had the opportunity to witness your love and unshakeable
fidelity to our Apostolic Holy Church and the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, which you bear as a seal on your soul as the worthy son of our
Armenian community of Lebanon."

Following the reading of the Encyclical, the Armenian Pontiff presented the
Medal of Saint Sahak – St Mesrop to Dr. Armenian.  In his remarks, the AUA
President expressed his gratitude to His Holiness, stating, "This medal is a
truly great honor for me, but I share this honor with all those whose care
and attention I received and continue to enjoy in different places and
different times."

The ceremony concluded with the blessing of His Holiness and a closing
prayer.

ANC CALLS FOR ADL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO END GENOCIDE DENIAL

armradio.am
21.08.2007 19:50

Turmoil in the New England Regional Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
continued this weekend with two Board Members resigning following
the firing of Regional Director Andrew H. Tarsy, for public calls
on ADL National Director Abe Foxman to reverse policy and properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of Eastern Massachusetts (ANC-EM).

"We are disappointed and outraged to hear that Mr. Tarsy was
removed from his position simply for speaking openly and honestly
about the Armenian Genocide," stated ANCEM chairperson Sharistan
Melkonian. "Mr. Foxman and the ADL National Leadership are clearly
out of step with their own membership, who have rightly concluded that
genocide denial is morally indefensible and will only serve to diminish
the credibility of this once-respected civil rights organization."

Reports of Tarsy’s firing and the resignations by Stewart L. Cohen
and Boston City Councilman Mike Ross came just days after the New
England ADL Board voted to call on the ADL National leadership to
reverse their position, properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as
‘genocide,’ and support Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.106 /
S.Res.106). According to an August 17th Boston Globe article, Tarsy
told reporter Keith O’Brien, "I strongly disagree with ADL’s national
position. It’s my strong hope that we’ll be able to move forward
in a relationship with the Armenian community and the community in
general." Just 48 hours prior, Tarsy had defended the ADL National’s
genocide denial position at the Watertown Town Council. Tarsy,
clearly uncomfortable in his remarks before the capacity crowd at the
Council meeting, was challenged when he evaded the word ‘genocide’
in describing the murder of over 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman

Turkish government from 1915-1923. A myriad of Watertown residents
urged the Town Council to take action, including ANC-EM spokesperson
Grace Kehetian Kulegian, who stated "on behalf of Watertown’s Armenian
community – and our century-long history of service and sacrifice for
our town – we call upon the Town Council to dissociate itself from
the ADL until such time that: The Anti-Defamation League, through its
National Director, Mr. Foxman, openly and unequivocally acknowledges
the Armenian Genocide and supports congressional affirmation of this
crime against humanity.

The Watertown Town Council voted unanimously that evening to cut ties
with the ADL, by disassociating with their "No Place for Hate" program.

Following the New England ADL’s public call for ADL National to
reverse their position, the National ADL posted an "Open Letter to
the New England Community," refraining from characterizing the events
of 1915-1923 as ‘genocide.’ The letter also claimed that the ADL
"takes no position" on Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.106 /
S.Res.106) while stating "We believe that legislative efforts outside
of Turkey are counterproductive to the goal of having Turkey itself
come to grips with its past."

"Mr. Foxman is sadly reading from a page in the Turkish government’s
genocide denial playbook," stated Melkonian. "Instead of helping
Turkey confront this dark page in human history, the ADL is enabling
its continued genocide denial a decision which comes at the expense
of its own reputation." The ADL statement comes as additional towns
in Massachusetts prepare to follow Watertown’s lead in ending their
association with the ADL and Armenian Genocide denial.

Foxman’s claims of neutrality regarding Armenian Genocide legislation
contradict earlier published statements in the Boston Globe and Los
Angeles Times, where Foxman noted "The Turks and Armenians need to
revisit their past. The Jewish community shouldn’t be the arbiter
of that history. And I don’t think the U.S. Congress should be
the arbiter either." According to press reports, Foxman joined the
American Jewish Committee, B’nai B’rith and JINSA in forwarding a
letter from Turkey’s Jewish Community citing concerns about Armenian
Genocide legislation to Members of Congress. According to an April
27th Jewish Telegraphic Agency article by Ron Kampeas, the ADL and
JINSA "added their own statements opposing the bill."

The Watertown – ADL controversy erupted in recent weeks, with Boston
area civil rights advocates, and local Armenian and Jewish American
community members expressing disappointment and outrage at recent
statements by ADL National Director Abe Foxman denying the Armenian
Genocide. Editorials and community letters in the local Watertown Tab
and Boston Globe cast a shadow on the credibility of the anti-racism
program, "No Place for Hate", due to its affiliation with the ADL.

Reporter Keith O’Brien first reported Tarsy’s firing in a front-page
Boston Globe article on August 18th. The news was accompanied by a
strongly worded Globe editorial, titled "No Synonyms for Genocide,"
arguing that the national ADL should not "pick and choose among
genocides," and stating "if the national ADL doesn’t acknowledge
the [Armenian] genocide, it is complicit in a cover-up." An op/ed
coauthored by Massachusetts State Representative Rachel Kaprielian and
Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, published in the Boston Globe
on the same day, noted "For any organization or official to believe
that there are differing sides to the Armenian Genocide is as much
an outrage as it would be for Germany to say that the work of Jewish
scholars, witnesses, and victim testimonies represented merely the
"Jewish side" of the Holocaust." Kaprielian and Dershowitz went on to
praise the New England Regional ADL for taking a principled stand,
noting that the "regional chapter was courageous and correct in its
decision to affirm its position that the [Armenian] genocide was fact."

POLICE ACCUSED OF CONFISCATING OPPOSITION LEAFLETS
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 20 2007

Several opposition activists, among them a parliament deputy,
on Monday accused the Armenian police of illegally using force to
stop them distributing leaflets demanding the release of prominent
government critics.

The opposition movement Aylentrank (Alternative) said three of its
members were detained by the police late Saturday while they handed
out leaflets to participants and spectators at the official opening
of the Fourth Pan-Armenian Games. The week-long games are attended
by some 2,500 amateur athletes from Armenia and Armenian Diaspora
communities from around the world.

The Aylentrank leader, Nikol Pashinian, said the activists were
released from a police station in central Yerevan several hours later
after his personal intervention. One of them, Vardges Gasparian, told
RFE/RL that officers there counted confiscated all of the leaflets.

The Police Service refused to confirm or deny this. A spokesman said
the police are only investigating similar claims made by Zaruhi
Postanjian, a parliament deputy from the opposition Zharangutyun
(Heritage) party.

In Postanjian’s words, she and her aide Seda Melikian were jostled by
police officers as they distributed the same leaflets outside Yerevan’s
Republican Stadium, the venue of the opening ceremony attended by
President Robert Kocharian and other top government officials. She
said they then went into the stadium only to be surrounded by two
dozen police officers trying to forcibly detain them.

"We stepped aside and said we won’t follow them," Postanjian told
RFE/RL. "They were using force to take us away."

Postanjian, who is also a well-known lawyer, added that the
law-enforcement authorities wrested a bag containing leaflets and
legal documents from her hands in the process. "The bag contained
many important documents relating to my former clients," she said.

The two women visited a police station in Yerevan’s central Kentron
district later in the evening to demand that the police apologize
and return the bag. "When we demanded our package back they said it’s
gone," said Melikian, also a lawyer.

The leaflets condemned the imprisonment of four "political prisoners"
highly critical of Armenia’s leadership and urged Armenians to
campaign for their immediate release. Three of the jailed individuals
have already been controversially sentenced to between 18 months and
three-and-a-half years in prison. The fourth detainee, former Foreign
Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian, is awaiting trial on charges of being
illegally financed from abroad.

All four men have rejected the charges brought against them as
politically motivated and baseless. The authorities, however, deny
any political reasons for their high-profile prosecution.

SOVEREIGNTY IS NOTHING, DEVELOPMENT IS EVERYTHING
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
21-08-2007 12:20:45

If the VivaCell company is sold to the Russian MTS, the likelihood of
which is reported in the media, although none of the parties confirms
the news, the Russian capital gets hold of the entire sphere of
communications and telecommunication of Armenia. As to what the Russian
capital now is, it is known to everyone who tracks the developments
in Russia. The Russian private capital is presently controlled by the
Kremlin. Consequently, the sphere of communication of Armenia will be
fully controlled by the Kremlin in case Viva Cell is sold. The ruling
elite of Armenia think it is quite normal. If we give the energy sector
to Russia, if we are going to give them the uranium and gold reserves,
the railways, why should we withhold communication? Certainly, some
people will state the strategic spheres cannot be given to the same
country. But please tell me why. What is wrong about it? Isn’t it
better to depend on one country and solve the problem of reproduction
before say the presidential or parliamentary election with one state
instead of traveling to Iraq, Brussels, God knows where else?

Moscow and that’s all, the question is solved.

We may say, in fact, that together with the issue of government the
issue of the state is solved, and it has reached the point when
it fully depends on Russia, but who said that everything is very
bad? Theoretically, it should not be ruled out that this policy may
eventually lead Armenia to some level of development. For instance,
part of building in Yerevan is thanks to Russian investments. The
origin of this money and the reason why it is invested in Armenia
which is at a deadlock is another question. However, the builders do
not care what money they are paid every month. They are happy that
they can earn their living. Or they say, for instance, that the new
Russian owners of Armentel have provided good conditions for the staff
of the company. The Russian management also improved the operation of
the Armenian nuclear plant, rehabilitating its financial state but it
should not be ruled out that the Russians sustain the nuclear plant
on artificial nourishment and as soon as they stop, the plant may
again face a financial crash. It is a fact, however, that there are
the Russians, and there is development, and the operation of Armenal
is evidence to it.

Certainly, there is also the problem of the factories handed over
to Russia in return for the debt which are not operated. However,
it takes time.

Certainly, very soon these companies will be operated, and Armenia
will become one of the leading countries in the region, and Azerbaijan
will have to steal the Kazakh oil from under the ground to keep up
with the rate of development of Armenia. Therefore, we should not stop
after handing over communications to the Russians but we should think
what else we can entrust them. For instance, sports. We can see what
Putinian Russia does. If we manage to hand over our sports to Russia
by 2014, no doubt the Armenian sportsmen will get most gold medals
in Sochi.

GAGIK JHANGIRYAN FAILS TO STAND ON HIS CLAIM AGAINST ARARAT GOLD

Panorama.am
17:01 20/08/2007

Today the Armenian Economic Court was to discuss Deputy Chief
Prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan’s legal case against Ararat Gold Mining
Ltd. None of the parties appeared in the court.

Jhangiryan had filed a statement of claim to the Economic Court
on August 2 against Ararat Gold Mining Ltd asking to terminate the
contract on Sotk gold mine processing concluded between Ararat Gold
Minding Ltd.

and Ministry of Nature Protection on March 13, 1999 and, consequently,
to cancel the right of gold mining which the enterprise gained by
Special License N HA-L-14/166 issued by the Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development on June 7, 2004.

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2007

CONTACT: Anita Papazian Kazarian
Noah’s Landing, LLC
PO Box 22168
Cleveland, OH 44122
216.932.8100
[email protected]

The Armenian Book Club

The inaugural meeting of The Armenian Book Club (The ABC) took place
Saturday, August 18 in Cleveland Ohio. The founder’s vision for The
Armenian Book Club is of a group devoted to exploring Armenia and
Armenians from non-traditional aspects. Kimberly Reese, the founder,
grew up hearing much of the same history most Armenians have. The
history of the pogroms, then Genocide by the Ottoman Empire against her
Armenian citizens in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The nine charter members, six Armenian and three non-Armenians, agreed
upon and read a novel for the inaugural meeting – The Bastard of
Istanbul by Elif Shafak. The diverse group is made up of immigrants
from Palestine, Egypt and Syria and six native born Americans. The ABC
is open to anyone says Mrs. Reese. Unlike other book clubs, this one
encourages all ages and all backgrounds to participate. Kimberly
believes that the Armenian history of many thousands of years is waiting
to be discovered, discussed and enjoyed. They plan to include film and
the arts as well as the written word in their search.

When questioned about the selection for their first meeting, The Bastard
of Istanbul, the group as a whole, said ".we loved the discussions it
opened up for us. The two families, the foods, the passions, the fears,
the individual aunts – they are people we know and understand. .we
experienced the common denominator of families, we liked the families."
The ABC believed this novel offered a new viewpoint, the viewpoint of a
courageous author who is numbered among several other fighting to
establish literary freedom in today’s Turkey. "And", said another
reader, "this author is very readable. She, Elif Shafak, made me laugh,
my mouth water when she described foods, feel deep sadness and
helplessness at the same time."

"Who really is the bastard of Istanbul? That is the question the group
discussed the most. The next selection for The Armenian Book Club will
be about the late Surrealist / Abstract Expressionist artist – Arshile
Gorky.

###

AN EXAMPLE OF NATIONAL UNITY

Lragir, Armenia
Aug 15 2007

In Armenia, national unity is already quite reachable. It is possible
that in the Armenian presidential election the entire political
sphere may put up one candidate. The precedent was the presidential
election of Karabakh when different political forces endorsed
the same candidate. The instinct of unity was so powerful that it
sometimes had strange expressions. For instance, such a case occurred
at one of polling stations in NKR when the leader of the National
Self-Determination Union Paruir Hairikyan, the representative of the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s General Body Armen Rustamyan and the reporter of
the news program of the Armenian Public Television Arthur Grigoryan
reproached Masis Mayilyan’s proxy who tried to prevent wrongdoing
during the voting.