Author: Zargarian Hambik

The Armenian Festival of Orange County
PO Box 3136
Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3136

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Tom Kalajian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 17 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Contact: Seta Mergeanian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 15 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Contact: Paul Aslanian
[email protected]
(949) 309-2900 Ext 11 | (888) HYE-FEST (493-3378)

Images available for download at

September 14, 2007

Third Annual Armenian Festival of Orange County Gears Up for Record
Attendance on October 13th and 14th

Laguna Hills, CA – Unique and spectacular again this year, organizers of
the 3rd annual Orange County Armenian Festival are expecting record
attendance. Originally conceived by Executive Director Paul Aslanian
and a few friends in 2005, the festival has been successful every year.
`The reaction from the Armenian community has been fantastic,’ says
Aslanian. He continues, `People are traveling from as far away as San
Diego and Santa Barbara. We’ve been swamped by support from
organizations so we’re making more room for them to participate. No
one will be turned away. It’s very exciting.’

The festival is a non-denominational, non-political, all-inclusive,
not-for-profit organization administered by non-affiliated independent
unpaid volunteers. `It is the only pan-Armenian not-for-profit
organization in the Southland,’ Aslanian stresses. Festival organizer
Thomas Kalajian adds, `All of us intended the festival organization be
independent from any political or religious governance or influence so
all organizations in the Armenian community would feel welcome to
communicate, cooperate and collaborate on a large scale.’ He added,
`We have a seasoned executive committee who is very grateful to the
dignitaries, community, local, state and national leaders who have given
their support for our vision and purpose.’

The positive outpouring does not surprise Kalajian. `There’s been a
longing for years amongst our community for a way to work collectively,
and now we’re doing it with other like-minded leaders in realizing
that dream for Armenians,’ he said. `It’s especially humbling and
fulfilling for our team to be contributing to protecting our future with
so many other able and visionary community leaders.’

Easy to Find Location

The festival will be held again at the Laguna Hills Community Center on
the weekend of October 13th and 14th located at the corner of Alicia
Parkway and Paseo de Valencia, at 25555 Alicia Parkway in Laguna Hills,
about 1 mile west of the Alicia exit on the 5 freeway.

Beginning at noon each day, the festival continues through 10:00 PM on
Saturday and through 8:00 PM on Sunday. Admission for adults and
children 13 and over is a trivial fee. Children 12 and under are
admitted free.

Guests of all ages and backgrounds are welcome, especially families and
those unfamiliar with fabulous Armenian food, music, dancing,
hospitality and gift ideas, all available at this annual event.
According to city officials, the festival is one of the largest and most
successful events held in the history of the Laguna Hills Community
Center.

Live Music, Authentic Dance Groups and Continuous Entertainment

The only Armenian festival of its kind in Southern California, festival
organizers have planned a stunning program of authentic entertainment,
presented continuously throughout the weekend. Highly trained dance
groups will return, wearing breathtaking costumes from the regions in
Armenia where the dances originate. `Guests will be awed by the grace
and beauty of the women’s dances and the men will perform daring and
thunderous dances with deft footwork displaying their athletic
agility,’ promises festival organizer Christina Krikorian. Complete
performances are scheduled every 90 minutes so guests will never miss an
exiting moment.

New this year, the live music will be provided by Knar, a renowned
Armenian band known for lively dance music. `We plan on having a
dance party atmosphere the whole time,’ adds Krikorian. Added are
several popular Armenian singers to supercharge the musical excitement.
Volunteer instructors will be available at no charge for guests
unfamiliar with Armenian dancing to learn and join in the line dances
where all are encouraged to share their best moves.

Many Varieties of Authentic Armenian Food and Delicious Shish Kebab

`We have taken the authentic food variety, quality and service to new
levels with authentic Armenian recipes for shish kebab, chicken, lulu
and beef, grilled to perfection on the spot,’ says festival organizer
Seta Mergeanian beaming with pride. `And, we’ll have all the usual
savory accompaniments,’ she adds. Several varieties of baklava will
be available as well as other unique desserts to tempt everyone’s
pallet. Traditional beverages, including Armenian coffee, as well as
plentiful bottled water and varieties of soft drinks will be available
to satisfy any thirst.

Children’s Play Village Returns with Full-Day Admission

Expanded will be the Children’s Village area, with bounce houses for
both younger and older children, in addition to availability of cotton
candy and sno cones. One low admission charge covers the entire day for
kids in the Village area, so parents can relax while their children
enjoy the village activities. Clowns, balloons and face painting will
also be available to keep the children entertained. `The children
will have a great time in the Children’s village,’ promises festival
organizer Aret Aramian.

Dignitaries, Officials and International Representatives

Also expanded are the presence of local, city and community
organizations where guests can gather useful information about events
and programs of interest to both the community at large and about
expanding their involvement in Armenian organizations and their
activities. Representatives of the California Trade Organization have
confirmed their attendance for exploring trade opportunities with
Armenia. Dignitaries and representatives of local municipalities, state
and federal representatives have been invited to join the festivities.

Free On-site Parking and Dual Entrances Enhance Guests’ Experience

For the convenience of guests, organizers have arranged plentiful and
convenient free parking areas on the festival site. Dual entrances will
make entering the Festival fast and easy.

Large Covered Dance Floor, Covered Seating, Bussed Tables, Immaculate
Maintenance

Organizers have arranged for the largest tent ever, offering shaded
seating for over 600 guests at decorated tables and comfortable chairs,
ideal for enjoying authentic meals, simply relaxing, or enjoying the
company of friends and the exciting entertainment. A team of festival
staff will clear and clean guest dining tables and maintain the pristine
condition and cleanliness of the garden-like grounds and restroom
facilities. Festival organizers have arranged for the largest dance
floor ever, 900 square feet, this time positioned under the tent itself
for ideal viewing and access by guests.

New Cultural Offerings

Expanded also are the cultural offerings in information booths
representing local and Southland cultural groups, which will enlighten
guests on the charming and amazing history of Armenian accomplishments,
getting handy tips and techniques on Armenian cooking, learning useful
Armenian phrases, exploring the artwork unique to Armenians, and
learning about the rich history and unique architecture of the Armenian
Church, the oldest form of Christianity still practiced today in the
world. Today, scholars worldwide visit ancient Armenian Church sites
conducting research about the early history of Christianity. `Guests
can see and learn lots of interesting things about the Armenian culture
here in one convenient place,’ says festival organizer Krikor
Mahdessian.

Rare Opportunity for Learning and Enjoyment in Festive and Friendly
Environment

Representatives of many Orange County Armenian organizations will be
present so guests may learn more about Armenian groups and activities in
Orange County and in the Southland at large. The friendly atmosphere of
the Armenian Festival, together with the garden setting of the Laguna
Hills Community Center combine to create an ideal environment for
creating new friendships and renewing old acquaintances.

Comfort, Security, Safety and Peace of Mind Planned for Guests

For the protection and peace of mind of festival guests, organizers have
again made arrangements for security presence, both during festival
hours and overnight. Ample lighting will ensure a safe and enjoyable
evening experience. `We’ve thought this through very carefully and
planned for the safety of all our guests,’ says Aslanian. Should cool
weather prevail, organizers have made arrangements for evening space
heaters. Red Cross representatives are expected to provide safety tips
and a fully functioning first aid booth is planned for the care of
festival guests. Direct dispatch from private security personnel to
emergency assistance, police and fire agencies has been arranged in the
event a need should arise.

Shopping Treasures

The shopping experience has been expanded to include more interesting
and authentic gifts and cultural items, some unique to Armenia, and
other unique altogether. Nearly 30 booth holders will provide guests
with truly interesting items of crafts, rare and authentic recorded
music, embroidery, products from Armenia available for purchase.
Commercial booths are available on a first-come basis where no two
occupants will be offering the same goods or services, so guests will
enjoy a variety of unique choices in the park setting. Applications for
commercial booths are available on the Festival’s web site at

About the Organization, Its Purpose and Governance

The Armenian Festival is a qualified tax-exempt organization under the
provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). In its first
year, the Festival donated its net proceeds to an orphanage and in 2006,
the Festival donated funds for education. Letters of appreciation from
the recipients are posted on the Festival’s web site at
Each year, the Festival will provide
increasing support to similar programs as its net proceeds continue to
grow.

Members of the Armenian Festival’s founding Board of Directors and
original Executive Committee continue to serve as unpaid volunteers.
They are business owners, tradesmen, professionals, para-professionals,
executives, retirees, community leaders and homemakers. All share a
steadfast commitment to contributing their time and best efforts towards
betterment activities in fulfillment of their inner sense of duty to
cherish the Armenian culture and serve the community and country in
which they now live and work as productive citizens.

The Festival is as an all-inclusive, pan-Armenian, non-denominational,
non-political, non-religious organization. Each year, all Orange County
Armenian charitable organizations of all beliefs and persuasions are
invited and encouraged to participate as booth holders at special
reduced registration fees. Participating organizations raise awareness
and funds for their organizations, nurture communication, coordination
and collaboration among other participating groups, inform guests of
travel and business opportunities with the Republic of Armenia, and
raise awareness of the rich culture and contributions of the Armenian
people to society.

The mission of the Armenian Festival is to provide financial support for
Armenian charitable organizations, and raise awareness of the Armenian
people and culture by means of authentic, high quality, enlightening and
entertaining activities for the enjoyment of the broader Southern
California public. The Festival’s core values stress the inclusion of
well-intentioned people of all backgrounds, while maintaining the
absence of any political or religious influences or positions. Both the
Mission Statement and the Statement of Core Values are posted on the
Festival’s web site.

Why Volunteers Return Every Year

Festival volunteers have the unique benefit of a rewarding experience in
belonging to a team of motivated and selfless people of all backgrounds
who join in a creative and nurturing environment where innovation and
excellence are welcomed, encouraged and validated. Beyond fun and the
pleasure of meeting new like-minded people, volunteers report a sense of
excitement and fulfillment at belonging to a team of able people doing
meaningful work that makes an observable difference in bettering
conditions.

Volunteers say their involvement is a personally expanding experience,
where they are contributing to an activity that is bigger than them
alone. `The volunteers have as much fun as everyone else,’ says
festival organizer Harry Krikorian. Moreover, high school students may
qualify for credit toward community service requirements. Volunteer
positions are available on a first-come basis. All are encouraged to
apply. More information and applications are available on the
Festival’s web site at

Festival Sponsors are Gracious Benefactors

Festival sponsors, likewise, support the mission and values of the
organization by contributing to the funds available to support the
charitable activities of the Festival. Sponsorships are available at
several levels. Sponsor premiums include VIP seating under the tent,
table service, prominent positioning in the Festival program, and
special acknowledgment at the Festival. Those interested in joining
other sponsors may inquire about arrangements by telephone at (949)
309-2900, by email to [email protected] or by visiting

A Value-Packed Enjoyable Family Experience

Fabulous food, exciting dance groups, live Armenian dance music,
multiple popular singers, unique shopping, comfortable covered seating,
free general parking, premium seating for sponsors and dignitaries,
convenient and easy to find location, a garden setting, impeccable
cleanliness, full security presence, well-lit grounds during evening
hours, bussed tables, affordable admission, and a children’s village
all combine to make an affordable and unsurpassed family experience.
Moreover, a portion of the net proceeds goes toward funding worthy
causes.

More Information Available

The Festival’s colorful flyer, applications for booth reservations,
volunteers or information for sponsors, a photo gallery of prior
festivals, letters of appreciation and congratulations, and much more
information is available by visiting the Festival’s web site at
or by telephoning the 24-hour information
hotline at either (949) 309-2900 or toll-free at (888) HYE-FEST
(493-3378).

The Future of the U.S.-Turkey Relationship
Saturday, 15 September 2007, 2:49 am
Speech: US State Department

R. Nicholas Burns
Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Remarks at the Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS)
Washington, DC
September 13, 2007
The Future of the U.S.-Turkey Relationship – Remarks at the Atlantic
Council of the United States
As Prepared
I am pleased to be back at the Atlantic Council to discuss what is one
of the most critical relationships for America in the world today —
the relationship between the United States and Turkey. Fred, thank you
for hosting me tonight. I appreciate the invitation by Fred Kempe and
the Atlantic Council Board to be here.
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Thank you to Henry Catto, Chairman emeritus of the Atlantic
Council. Thanks to Ambassador Marc Grossman for his warm
introduction. It is a pleasure to see the Ambassador of Turkey, Nabi
Sensoy, the Ambassador of Armenia, Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador Mark
Parris and Jim Holmes here tonight.
This is an important moment for the relationship between the United
States and Turkey. Turkey has just elected a new government. Our
countries now need to enter into a new era of our relationship and to
commit to a revival of our very close friendship and alliance.
I will visit Ankara and Istanbul soon to bring a strong and clear
message from our leadership — the United States is committed to
revitalize this critical partnership. Restoring a sense of strategic
partnership in the broad range of U.S.-Turkish relations — extending
beyond government-to-government cooperation to a flowering of private
sector ties between our people — will be a major priority for the
United States in the coming months. It is indeed time to rejuvenate
and restore America’s relationship with Turkey.
The Turkish people have just concluded important, even historic
elections. These elections demonstrated the strong health of Turkey’s
democracy, the most impressive in the Moslem world. The result was a
decisive and Turkey can now expect a period of renewal and growth at
home and responsibility and challenge in its foreign policy. The
United States government looks forward to a very close relationship
with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan.
President Bush and Secretary Rice respect both of these men. We have
worked very well and productively with them in years past and know
that will continue in the years to come. We would like to agree with
the newly-elected Turkish leadership on a period in the coming months
of high-level visits, discussions and joint commitment to face
together the challenges of stability and peace in the Middle East.
Turkey, after all, has been one of our closest friends for over 50
years, dating back to the Truman Doctrine and the Korean War, and
anchored by our Alliance in NATO. Throughout this long period, Turkey
has always been among the United States’ most dependable and important
allies in an otherwise turbulent region. We look to Turkey, with its
160-year legacy of modernizing reform, as the most successful example
in the world today of a secular democracy within a Muslim society that
can inspire reformers in the greater Middle East and beyond.
Turkey’s importance to the United States is even more pronounced at a
time when the Middle East in the 21st century has replaced Europe in
the 20th century as the most critical region for America’s core
national security interests. Turkey is the only country in the region
that can work effectively with all of the others in the Middle
East. Turkey’s influence is substantial and unique. In this very
important sense, Turkey is an indispensable partner to the United
States in the Middle East.
Our history of close relations, shared interests, and common values
makes Turkey one of the most important Allies of the United States
anywhere in the world. That is not to say that our relationship has
been perfect: we have certainly endured our share of difficulties,
misunderstandings, and miscommunications in recent years.
>From our perspective, 2002-2005 were particularly difficult, but we
believe we have turned the corner together with the Turkish
leadership. We now have a moment of opportunity to build stronger ties
at all levels between our governments. For the past two years,
especially, our leaders have worked with considerable energy to revive
the relationship and to address more effectively the common challenges
and opportunities before us.
One glance at the map demonstrates why it is so important to
strengthen the ties between our two countries. Turkey is influential
in the Balkans, in the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and in the greater
Middle East. In this vitally important arc of countries where so much
of our foreign policy attention now lies, Turkey is the vital link for
the United States and our European allies in addressing common
economic, security, and political challenges and opportunities in
these critical regions.
On perhaps the most dynamic international issue of 2007 — energy —
we share a common interest with the Turks. Turkey is the gateway for
exports of oil and natural gas from the Caspian region and Iraq to
Europe. Building on our successful cooperation in the 1990’s to
develop the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the South Caucasus
gas pipeline, we now seek to expand this critical energy
infrastructure into a Southern Corridor to help our European allies —
Greece, Italy and into Western Europe — create a free market for
energy supplies in Europe.
These efforts can also help Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan
bolster their own independence by providing them access to European
energy markets.
We hope it will be possible for Turkey to arrive at a swift agreement
with Azerbaijan on transit terms. Turkey should also strive to find a
pricing formula for future exports to Turkey from the Caspian Sea
natural gas field of Shah Deniz, a necessary step to complete the
inter-governmental agreement for the Turkey-Greece-Italy gas
pipeline. Over the longer term, Turkey should continue to cooperate
with the United States and our friends in Iraq, Turkmenistan, and
Kazakhstan to expand gas production and exports to Turkey and onward
into Europe.
In South Asia, Turkey is helping NATO to bolster regional security in
Afghanistan, having twice commanded the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) and now leading a Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT) in Wardak Province. Turkey has been an important arbiter
between Afghanistan and Pakistan, providing a welcoming, neutral venue
for Presidents Karzai and Musharraf to discuss issues of mutual
significance.
It is in this area that we feel Turkey could make even more of an
impact. Turkey could offer assistance to repatriated Afghan refugees
from Pakistan, help both sides improve border management and customs
collection, or support the emergence of Afghan-Pakistani
Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, as the U.S. plans to do.
Turkey has also played a key role in Kosovo, where it has 660
personnel in KFOR and took over command of Multinational Task
Force-South in May.
The Turkish government is playing a similarly constructive role in the
extended Black Sea region, where Turkey’s Operation Black Sea Harmony
cooperates with NATO’s Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean
Sea to deter terrorism and bolster maritime security along NATO’s
southern and eastern flanks.
Turkey should encourage its neighbors to undertake democratic reform,
fight corruption and organized crime, as well as look for ways to
improve market economies in the region. The U.S. would like to work
with Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria to take greater advantage of
opportunities to expand NATO’s activities in the Black Sea region.
And, Turkey is playing a regional leadership role in the Middle
East. Turkey’s common borders with Iraq, Iran, and Syria provide an
opportunity to advance peace and stability, fight proliferation of
nuclear weapons, and defeat terrorists in a region that is now the
epicenter of U.S. foreign policy. Turkey can help deepen our
understanding of strategic trends in the Middle East, while
reinforcing our efforts to advance political and economic freedom and
fight terror to advance peace and prosperity.
It is not only geography and common interests that make Turkey a key
U.S. partner; it is our shared values of democracy, diversity, and
tolerant faith that make us friends and allies. The United States and
Turkey share a deep appreciation for the importance of separating
civic and religious life.
In Turkey, reform movements during the late Ottoman period aimed to
balance the claims that religion makes on personal lives with the
exigencies of a modern state. One of the most famous waves of reforms,
the so-called "Tanzimat" movement of the mid-19th Century was an
attempt to give all residents of the empire the same rights, whether
they were Muslim, Christian or Jewish.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk rejuvenated Turkey’s modernizing reforms, as he
granted political rights to women, laid the foundation for Turkey’s
industrial rise, and established the Turkish Republic as a secular
democracy. Turkey’s commitment to secular democracy makes it a natural
ally for the United States.
Turkey may now be at a new historical turning point, with a real
opportunity to invigorate political and economic reforms that will
anchor it in the European Union and bolster its ability to inspire
reformers in the greater Middle East region. Parliamentary elections
on July 22 and the election of Abdullah Gul as president on August 28
demonstrated once again that Turkey is a robust and ever-maturing
democracy, one that is defined by respect for constitutional
processes, with the country’s political future determined by
elections.
We welcome Mr. Gul’s election as President. President Bush and
Secretary Rice have good relationships with President Gul, and Prime
Minister Erdogan, and look forward to developing these relationships.
The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, now controls the
government, parliament, and presidency. At the same time, Turkish
voters sent a message of moderation during the recent elections. While
the AKP won a resounding victory, opposition parties received over 50
percent of the vote, and with more parties crossing the 10 percent
electoral threshold the new parliament is more representative of
Turkey’s diverse voter sentiment. Turkey’s voters thus appear to have
signaled their desire for Prime Minister Erdogan and President Gul to
deepen Turkey’s secular democracy by rejuvenating political and
economic reforms, but in the context of Turkey’s Muslim society.
As Turkey’s democratic institutions strengthen and as its reforms
proceed, Turkey grows in importance to the U.S. as a strategic
partner. Realizing the full potential of this partnership poses
several immediate challenges to both of our countries. In the Middle
East, Turkey can play a regional leadership role that could help the
U.S. achieve some of its most pressing foreign policy goals, but which
will require careful coordination to prevent our two countries from
operating at cross-purposes.
At the top of the list is Iraq. Our decision to liberate Iraq from
Saddam Hussein’s brutality triggered an unprecedented wave of
anti-Americanism in Turkey. Our official relations have recovered from
the low-point of the Turkish Parliament’s vote on March 1, 2003 to
reject our request to move U.S. forces into Iraq via Turkey. Since
then, Ankara has been a strong supporter of our efforts to stabilize
Iraq, and has asked us not to abandon our goals, particularly
safeguarding Iraq’s territorial integrity. Turkey represents a
critical logistical lifeline for our troops in Iraq and has made
important contributions to Coalition operations there.
Turkey is similarly helpful in diplomatic efforts to bolster support
for Iraq among its neighbors. The United States appreciates Turkey’s
willingness to host the next Extended neighbors ministerial in
October, an important follow-up to the work begun at Sharm el-Sheikh
last May. Secretary Rice announced this week that she plans to attend
this meeting in Istanbul.
Turkey’s willingness to help the international community address Iraq
is all the more appreciated given the difficulties it is suffering as
a result of attacks from PKK terrorists in Iraq. Let me assure you,
the United States condemns the PKK as a vicious terrorist group. We
mourn the loss of innocent Turkish lives in these attacks.
We remain fully committed to working with the Governments of Turkey
and Iraq to counter PKK terrorists, who are headquartered in northern
Iraq. We are making progress in putting in place the mechanisms
required to produce such concrete results against the PKK. We will
also follow up our success in working with Turkey and our other
European partners to interdict PKK terror financiers in Europe and
bring them to justice.
Turkey and the United States also face a challenge in Iran. We have
worked well together to support of the clear international consensus
demanding that Iran cease its nuclear weapons development
programs. Turkey has also proven to be strong partner in countering
Iran’s support for terrorists in the Middle East.
But the United States and Turkey still need to work out some tactical
differences in handling Iran. We understand that Iran is a neighbor of
Turkey and key trading partner, which sends over a million tourists to
Turkey each year. Turkey’s recent conclusion of a memorandum on energy
cooperation with Iran, however, is troubling. Now is not the time for
business as usual with Iran. We urge all of our friends and allies,
including Turkey, to not reward Iran by investing in its oil and gas
sector, while Iran continues to defy the United Nations Security
Council by continuing its nuclear research for a weapons capability
The United States and Turkey share a common interest in working toward
a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. President Bush’s vision is
of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in
peace and security. The Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud
Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is the most capable Palestinian
government since Oslo and is committed to being a partner for peace.
As we work to develop the economy and institutions of governance that
will form the foundation of a Palestinian state, Turkey understandably
can see opportunities to draw on its historical experience from the
Ottoman era and its modern economic might to help restore prosperity
to the Palestinian people, while drawing on its more recent experience
in forging a close security partnership with Israel.
Turkey is unique in its dual identity as both a Middle Eastern and
European country. We thus face important challenges in U.S.-Turkish
relations with regard to deepening Turkey’s integration in
Euroatlantic institutions.
We are among the strongest supporters of Turkey’s EU aspirations. We
call on Europe’s leaders to signal clearly and unambiguously that
Turkey will have a voice in the European Union in the future. We
believe both Turkey and the Euroatlantic community will benefit as
Turkey advances toward EU membership. We wish to see an even more
democratic and prosperous Turkey, which will make Turkey a stronger
partner for the United States in Europe. The prospect of full
membership in the EU is the right goal for Turkey and the future of
the European Union.
Moreover, Europe’s full embrace of a reformed Turkey will send a
powerful signal to Europe’s other Muslim populations that Islam and
democracy are compatible, and that integration into mainstream
European society is possible without surrendering one’s Islamic
identity.
This could be a crucial factor in defeating Europe’s extremist
recruiters, who prey on alienated Europe’s Muslim populations. Those
Europeans who oppose Turkish membership in the EU should keep in mind
that it is not the Turkey of today, but an even more democratic Turkey
of tomorrow that would that would join the EU after several more years
of reform.
To reach this transcendent strategic objective, we hope Turkey will
repeal Article 301 of the Penal Code, which restricts freedom of
expression and has led to outlandish legal cases against private
citizens and global figures such as Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk. We
also hope Turkey will help make its own case with the EU by allowing
the Ecumenical Patriarch’s religious school at Halki in Istanbul to
reopen decades after it closed.
We must also work with Turkey to strengthen NATO. Turkey has been a
cornerstone of the Alliance since the 1952, serving as a barrier to
Soviet expansion throughout the Cold War. Several generations of
Turkish military officers enjoyed formative professional experiences
while serving in NATO commands. Today, Turkey is a key NATO partner in
Afghanistan and Kosovo, and is emerging as a critical potential
partner in the vast majority of NATO’s future contingencies, which lie
to the southeast of Europe.
An important focus of Euroatlantic security cooperation is developing
ways for the EU and NATO to work together in bringing their respective
capacities to bear in strengthening stability and security in Kosovo,
Bosnia, Afghanistan and elsewhere. We appreciate the difficulties that
such cooperation poses for Turkey given the still-evolving Turkey-EU
relationship, the circumstances of Turkey’s participation in
activities within the European Security and Defense Policy, as well as
the complications resulting from the lack of a Cyprus settlement.
Yet it is vital for all of us, including Turkey, that NATO and the EU
are indeed able to work together in crisis areas around the world. For
this and many other reasons, we call on all relevant parties to
reinvigorate UN-brokered efforts to reach a comprehensive Cyprus
settlement that reunifies the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation. We welcome last week’s meeting of President Papadopoulos
and Mehmet Ali Talat, and look forward to future such meetings to
implement last year’s July 8 agreement.
I intend to travel to Cyprus this autumn and will communicate to the
Cypriot government leadership and the Turkish leadership, as well, the
strong wish of the United States that we might all contribute to a
breakthrough for peace after decades of crisis. The time has come for
the United Nations and all of us to achieve a just solution to the
long-festering problem of Cyprus.
Finally, the U.S. and Turkey face a serious challenge with regard to
Armenia. Each year on April 24, Armenian Remembrance Day, President
Bush has issued a public statement lamenting the mass killings and
forced deportations of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman
authorities at the end of World War I.
The United States condemnation of this tragedy is not at issue; the
question is how best to facilitate reconciliation of all concerned
parties with each other and with their painful and shared past. We
believe passage of the U.S. House of Representative’s Resolution 106,
which would make a political determination that the tragedy of 1915
constituted genocide, would undercut voices emerging in Turkey for
dialogue and reconciliations concerning these horrific events. We
therefore have recommended to Congress that it not pass such a
resolution.
We strongly encourage Turkey to normalize its relations and reopen its
border with Armenia, steps that will help bring peace, prosperity and
cooperation to the Caucasus. Now, in the wake of the AKP’s resounding
electoral victories, is the time for Ankara to make a bold opening
toward Armenia. And we hope that Armenia will respond in kind.
In conclusion, the United States and Turkey have enjoyed a
relationship of Allied friendship for over half a century of enormous
complexity, success, and promise. We have weathered a difficult period
over the past four years. We now stand at the edge of a potentially
new era in Turkish politics that offers a chance to restore a sense of
strategic partnership in U.S.-Turkish relations.
I will be traveling to Ankara soon to bring this message to the new
government personally. The United States is determined to seize this
opportunity to renew and strengthen our strategic partnership with
Turkey. We look forward to working together with Turkish leaders who
share this vision and determination to build this strong, vital and
irreplaceable Turkish-American alliance for the 21st century.
Thank you.

LEVITIN: RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS IN RA TO TOTAL $0,5 BILLION THIS YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.09.2007 13:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This year Russian investments in Armenia will amount
to $0,5 billion, Co-chair of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
committee on economic cooperation Igor Levitin said.

"Armenia and Russia enjoy partner relations. We can partly ascribe
the effect to the friendly relations between the leadership of
our states. Businessmen believed the authorities and the amount of
investments mentioned above is not the limit. With implementation of
several major projects, the figure will increase," Mr Levitin said.

For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan said the recent
boost in economic cooperation is also explained by regular dialogue
between the Presidents.

"Russian investments will increase. Today we will sign an agreement
on introducing a Russian company into the Armenian market," he said,
IA Regnum reports.

Upon completion of the sitting Serge Sargsyan and Igor Levitin ratified
the plans for long-term measures for strengthening the Armenian-Russian
cooperation and signed the protocol of the 9th sitting of the
committee. The 10th sitting is scheduled for September 2008 in Russia.

MR. GENERAL, THEY’RE ALL HERE FOR YOU
By Murat Yetkin

Turkish Press
Published: 9/13/2007

RADIKAL- President Abdullah Gul paid his first domestic visit
as a president to the Southeastern region, which is a meaningful
behavior. If this is the sign that functions of the state are reviving
again following the crisis about the presidential election which
started in Ankara in April, this situation can be understood from
the liveliness of interpretations on this visit. According to an
interpretation, Gul is pursuing a stance of the state this way. The
facts that Ahmet Necdet Sezer also paid his first domestic visit as
a president to the Southeastern region, Gul plans to pay his first
visit abroad to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a
president and that he sent messages of solidarity to Algerian President
Abdulaziz Bouteflika, as he faced an attempt of assassination, are
viewed as evidences supporting this stance.

According to another interpretation, Gul is paying his first visit to
the Southeastern region in order to have better relations with the
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and that he’s sensitive about fighting
terrorism and such issues as border safety and separation. As part
of this, there is a foreign dimension of this visit and actually the
president is also inspecting Iraqi and Iranian borders. The fact
that this visit started immediately after Chief of General Staff
Yasar Buyukanit’s first official visit to Gul is also meaningful for
this reason.

According to another comment, Gul is paying this visit for the purpose
of serving domestic peace, in other words, for solving the Kurdish
issue and fighting the understanding that all the Kurds are considered
as supporters of the terrorist PKK. The visit coincided with just the
beginning of Ramadan month, which also indicates this. The reality
probably lies just in the middle of these three interpretations.

Israeli jets violated the Syrian airspace last weekend and two fuel
tanks dropped on the Turkish territory; it was claimed in the Arabian
press that these jets took off from Turkey; the Foreign Ministry
requested information from Israel after two days of silence, when
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem wanted to visit Ankara and
then Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who met with Walid al-Moallem,
condemned this stance of Israel by defining it ‘unacceptable’. These
incidents are all parts of this. It can be seen that neither the
Foreign Ministry, nor the General staff want to exaggerate this issue
at a time when the Armenian bill is about to reach the US Congress
again and certain cracks emerged within the Jewish lobby in the US. In
addition, interesting information about the Cabinet started to leak
within lobbies, where Gul paid a visit of thanks yesterday. It’s
said that there is an incredible competition between ministers about
duties and authorities of the Ministry of Environment, City Planning
and Water, and the Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, which
will be newly established. It’s also claimed that Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who isn’t glad with the functioning of customs,
want to attach the income part of customs to the Finance Ministry
and the security part to the Interior Ministry. Similarly, it’s also
claimed that the issue of sports was attached to Labor Minister Murat
Basesgioglu, who rejected Gul’s presidential candidacy and that this
is like a punishment, rather than a reward.

None of these things are as worth mentioning in terms of politics
as this incident: Indicating the reporters, President Gul said to
Gen. Buyukanit, who came to congratulate him yesterday following
a process which is full of debates, that they were all here for
him. Obviously, there is a part of reality about this joke. Gul
wants to show that debates which started in the process of a crisis
concerning the presidential election are over. Is the picture which
emerged yesterday indicating this? This is not certain.

However, it can be certainly said that a new period started yesterday.

ARMENIAN BISHOP MIRZAKHANIAN: ONE DAY JAVAKHETI WILL BE OURS TOO

Azeri Press Agency
[ 11 Sep 2007 16:29 ]

Armenian bishop Ter Vazgen MIrzakhanyan during his visit to Javakhetia
compactly-populated by Armenians said there are problems connected
with Armenian Apostolic Church, APA reports quoting Armenian media.

Ter Vazgen MIrzakhanian said no religious minority was registered in
Georgia and the main problem is to determine the church’s status.

"The other problem is to return Tbilisi’s Surb Norashen and
Akhalkalak’s Surb Nshan churches to Armenian Apostolic Church. The day
will come when these churches and Javakheti will be ours. Taking the
realities into account, we are satisfied with the present situation
so far. The main problem of our people is to achieve recognition of
Nagorno Karabakh’s independence on the international scale," he said.

POLITICAL PRISONER’S PERSECUTION CONTINUES

Lragir, Armenia
10-09-2007 17:50:22

The ex-foreign minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan who initiated
the Civil Disobedience Movement, held a news conference on September
10 after his release from the isolation ward of the National Security
Service. The conference was at the Pressing press club. Alexander
Arzumanyan, who had been arrested May 7 on a charge of money
laundering, said after he was set free that he is not a political
prisoner any more but he is persecuted because only the preventive
punishment has been replaced.

Alexander Arzumanyan was set free four months after his arrest when
the report on the investigation of his case was submitted to Aghvan
Hovsepyan. Alexander Arzumanyan says both his arrest and release are
manifestations of arbitrariness in Armenia. "There was no case. There
were no criminal charges. The prosecutor general confirmed that if you
heard him a few days ago. I must restore my reputation. They pinned
labels on me. The prosecutor states to the country that there was a
crime, the National Security Service only needs to prove that Sashik
Aghazaryan’s money is illegal. In other words, they only need to do
what is needed to consider and suspect of money laundering. There
remains only to do what they must begin with. In other words, it shows
that they took me to the isolation ward four months ago for nothing,
and put up a case," Alexander Arzumanyan says. Sashik Aghazaryan and
Alexander Arzumanyan were friends at school, and after his arrest he
stated that he had sent him the money, so there is nothing secret or
illegal about it.

Alexander Arzumanyan does not know why he was arrested and why he
was released. He does not believe that one representative of the
pyramid instructed to arrest him and the other instructed to release
him. "For the rumored controversy between Robert Kocharyan and Serge
Sargsyan, I cannot imagine the regime without this tandem. I find
no controversy between them. My release gave me a surprise, just
like you," Alexander Arzumanyan said. He said his wife visited him
three hours before the release. If they were going to release me,
why did they allow me to meet my wife three hours before the release,
Alexander Arzumanyan asks? "Apparently, it is not a legal procedure. If
it were a legal procedure, they would know beforehand, they would not
allow my wife to visit me at 17.30 to send me home at 20:30. In other
words, it is not only political order but also legal arbitrariness,"
Alexander Arzumanyan says.

He thinks both his arrest and release are the problem of the people
who gave the instructions. Alexander Arzumanyan says he does not know
yet why he was arrested, what they feared. "If they arrested on a
put-up charge, they were afraid of something. If I am a political
figure who scares some people, I am proud of that," Alexander
Arzumanyan says. According to him, his arrest might be a signal for
other political figures to behave themselves otherwise they will be
punished like me.

Alexander Arzumanyan says he will have everyone apologize to him,
and will go to the ECHR to restore his reputation. "I expect the
apology of everyone who was involved in this case, who instructed and
who fulfilled the instructions. I have questions, I wonder how the
judges who make illegal decisions and appear funny look their wives,
children in the eye. Let them tell me excuse us, we were told to
do that. Let them tell me who was involved in my illegal arrest and
apologize to me," Alexander Arzumanyan says.

Arzumanyan said he has such a crystal biography that the government
was unable to find anything over these four months that would enable
them to convict him. Alexander Arzumanyan thanked the reporters for
support and said he believes the reporters do the real work, while the
politicians do not. Alexander Arzumanyan also said he was treated with
respect at the isolation ward. "People know what is going on in our
country. I am respected not only in the street, in the neighborhood,
but also at the prison, Alexander Arzumanyan stated."

DOWNTOWN FIXTURES NOT IN NEED OF FIXING … OR REPLACING
By Bill McEwen

Fresno Bee CA
09/09/07

Hooray for Cosmopolitan Tavern owner, bartender and sidewalk sweeper
Gary Lanfranco.

Hooray for Jeanette Jurkovich, Doug Vagim and other pesky
preservationists at Heritage Fresno.

Maybe someday, the politicians charged with revitalizing downtown will
listen to the good citizens who are kicking government tail in court.

Lanfranco is the third-generation owner of "Cosmo," a century-old
landmark that the Redevelopment Agency declared blighted and subject
to eminent domain in its push to spruce up Chinatown.

The Cosmo is to Chinatown what Susan Sarandon is to the silver screen.

Yes, it’s been around the block, but it’s still beautiful — and RDA
officials could’ve seen that for themselves if they’d done more than
a drive-by inspection.

Or weren’t dangling like marionettes from the fingers of master
developers.

Instead of rolling over, Lanfranco rolled up his sleeves and called
Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento-based group that believes
eminent domain is worse than typhoid fever.

Lanfranco won the battle and is getting $15,000 from the city for
his legal fees.

Now he won’t have to start over elsewhere, and son Joe, the chef,
will keep turning out the Cosmo’s top-selling tri-tip sandwiches.

"I don’t have a grudge against the city," Lanfranco says.

"This was about preserving what’s been ours for a long time and making
sure the [Cosmo] name doesn’t move."

Lanfranco’s victory also is about something else: the city’s need to
incorporate existing businesses into its downtown vision, instead of
trampling and discouraging them.

Downtown Fresno should be a blend of old and new, classic and funky,
master developer and mom-and-pop.

And while we await the big-bang projects years and decades from
completion, City Hall should focus on making downtown clean and green,
putting in walking and cycling paths, and providing incentives to
build lofts and apartments above the Fulton Mall.

The City Council — which is the RDA — also might want to sit down
with Heritage Fresno and figure out where to put five old homes moved
from the original Armenian Town.

These treasures have been treated like trash by the bureaucrats, and
Heritage Fresno has beaten RDA in court more than once to save them.

I bet the crew of young planners recently hired by the city could find
a prominent spot for the houses that would improve downtown’s ambience.

The agency, instead, is appealing the court ruling because it wants
to hide them away in an industrial area.

Can anybody be that short-sighted?

RDA can, and the next time it gets whipped in court the judge ought
to order the agency to stamp "Stupid — It’s What We Do!" on its
letterhead.

Serving the public is what Lanfranco does.

The Cosmo has good food, Fat Tire on tap and and burgundy upholstered
booths. It’s old, new, classic and funky, and a place where customers
are treated like friends.

Downtown has many businesses like that. Mecca Billiards, Baskin’s
Auto Supply and Arrow Electric Motor Service are among them.

The city should throw them all a parade, thank them for sticking things
out and tell the big-shot developers getting big city subsidies to
build around them.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Main goal of my presidency will be a viable and politically stable state
08.09.2007 13:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The main goal of my presidency will be to have a
viable, socially just, economically developed, and politically stable
state. The strength of such a state to a greater extent is derivative
from our policy towards the needs of the youth and socially vulnerable
strata. The authorities have much to do in this field,’ said NKR
president elect Bako Sahakyan during his inaugural address.

`Being guided by the Constitution we will continue to build a state,
which will protect the interests of its citizens. Ethnic minorities
will enjoy special protection.

We have a clear-cut agenda of challenges facing our republic. To
address them we need to reshape the policy of socioeconomic
development and put special emphasize on exploring investment
resources directing them into the most perspective fields. Available
scientific and intellectual potential will also serve this purpose.

International recognition of the Artsakh Republic, which is a pillar
of our foreign policy, will give a serious impetus to the pace of our
development. This is also in the interests of the region. NKR Defense
Army will be ready to rebuff any attack against our state and
society. The issues of army building, strengthening defense capacity,
solving social problems of the servicemen will be always in the focus
of attention,’ he said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey going to build wall at border with Iraqi Kurdistan
08.09.2007 15:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Following the example of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel
and the U.S., Turkey is going to build a 470 km `security wall’ at the
border with Iraqi Kurdistan. The project will cost $2.3 billion,
Kurdistan.ru reports quoting Yeni Safak newspaper.

Iraqi Kurdistan is situated in the north of Iraq bordering with Syria,
Turkey and Iran. It covers a territory of 80 thousand km2.

Providence Journal, RI
Sept 8 2007

Pair sentenced for their role in PIN pad scheme

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, September 8, 2007

By Paul Grimaldi
Journal Staff Writer

Phot: Defendants Mikael Stepanian and Arutyun Shatarevyan still await
sentencing.

Journal FILES / Steve Szydlowski
PROVIDENCE – Two of the four Californians arrested in a scheme to
steal bank card information from supermarket customers in Rhode
Island were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court.

Arman Ter-Esayan, 22, of Valley Glen, was sentenced to six years in
federal prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and aggravated identity
theft.

Gevork Baltadjian, 20, of Winnetka, was sentenced to 61 months in
prison for playing a `minor’ role in the scheme that siphoned
$132,000 from the accounts of Stop & Shop customers in Rhode Island.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered each man to
repay the banks that covered those losses and to remain on supervised
probation for three years after their release.

He will recommend both men spend their terms in a federal prison in
southern California, Smith said.

Ter-Esayan, an Armenian national, will be turned over to immigration
officials for deportation after his release.

The two other men charged in the scheme will be sentenced later.

Arutyun Shatarevyan, 20, of Los Angeles, is set for sentencing Sept.
21. Sentencing for Mikael Stepanian, 28, of Studio City, is Nov. 2.

Like Ter-Esayan and Baltadjian, they agreed this year to plead guilty
to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and aggravated identity
theft.

The men were arrested by state and Coventry police Feb. 26 at the
Stop & Shop on Tiogue Avenue in Coventry where, federal and state
authorities said, the four had gone to retrieve a checkout lane PIN
pad rigged to capture shoppers’ financial-account information.

Videotape evidence linked the men to 1,100 account thefts at Stop &
Shops in Providence, Cranston and Coventry, and ultimately, to ATM
withdrawals made in California, according to federal officials. The
men removed or tried to remove original PIN pads from at least six
stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The men were living in California before they flew to Rhode Island in
early February.

Ter-Esayan’s lawyer, George W. Buehler,tried to downplay the
financial damage done by the scheme and said the government was
`piling on’ the prison time it wanted his client to serve.

`Every one of [the customers] has been made whole by the banks,’
Buehler said. `The actual financial losses have been sustained by the
… banks.

Smith, however, disagreed.

The judge laid out various scenarios, some taken from customer
affidavits, in which people’s finances were disrupted by the thefts.
Money was taken, or credit charges applied, to the accounts of at
least 238 people, he noted.

`I just don’t see how that doesn’t make the customer the victim,’
Smith said. `Are you saying the inconvenience experienced by each of
these [people] is irrelevant?’

The `emotional’ effect of learning accounts are compromised is less
severe than the `economic loss’ of money being drained permanently
from an account, Buehler said.

Regardless of a bank’s willingness to reimburse customers, `these
people suffered real, actual economic loss,’ said Lee H. Vilker, an
assistant U.S. attorney. `They should be considered victims.’

Ter-Esayan, reading from a legal pad yesterday in court said, `I take
full responsibility for my actions in this case and am truly sorry.
If there is no price there is no value and consequently nothing is
learned.

`All I can hope is to get through this and get back to my life.’

Ter-Esayan settled in the Los Angeles area four years ago after
arriving from his native Armenia.

Buehler tried to depict his client as having established strong ties
to his California community.

In Glendale, outside of Los Angeles, about one-third of the city’s
206,000 residents are Armenian. Among them is Araz Setaghaian, whom
he married this summer while in the Adult Correctional Institutions,
according to a court document.

Setaghaian was in court yesterday, along with Ter-Esayan’s mother,
but neither testified.

In a separate hearing yesterday, Baltadjian’s court-appointed lawyer
separated his client from Ter-Esayan and the others.

`This sophisticated operation required three individuals,’ said
Richard Corley, and `anybody who has the gift of gab.’

Baltadjian’s role was to distract store clerks so they wouldn’t
notice Ter-Esayan and Shatarevyan handling the checkout lane PIN
pads. Employed as a tow-truck driver back home, Baltadjian was paid
$2,500, plus various expenses, to play a `minor’ role in the scheme,
Corley said.

The judge acknowledged the argument.

`I recognize that you were used in some respect,’ Smith told
Baltadjian. `I’m not suggesting you plotted it or conceived it . . .
That is why you will receive a sentence that is lower than your
co-defendants.’

Baltadjian arrived in the United States from Armenia in 1993. He
gained U.S. citizenship as a result of his mother being granted
citizenship before his 18th birthday, Corley discovered shortly
before yesterday’s hearing.

Unlike Ter-Esayan, he cannot be deported as a result of his guilty
plea in this case.

`I think it is a major victory,’ Corley said. `The consequences of
deportation would intensify his punishment greatly.’