Category: News

Stirring read worthy of a tepid shower
Canberra Times – Australasia
Jan 15, 2005

A ROOM in the miserable Kum Hotel on Gallipoli in mid-winter seems a
fitting place to have written this review of Fred and Elizabeth
Brenchley’s biography of T.W.White. A pioneering Australian airman,
captured in Mesopotamia, Tom White spent three years as a prisoner of
the Turks before escaping. He endured much worse than the Kum’s tepid
showers and monotonous breakfasts. As White recounted in Guests of the
Unspeakable, his vivid memoir of harsh captivity and daring escape,
being a prisoner of the Turks involved discomfort, danger and, for
many, death. The Brenchleys’ book reminds us of how terrible it was to
be a prisoner of the Turks: almost as bad as being captured by the
Japanese. Nearly one in three of the 268 Australians captured by the
Ottomans died in captivity: only two out of the nine air mechanics of
the Australian ”Half Flight” captured at Kut survived. And these
prisoners got help from friendly neutral diplomats: imagine if they
had not.
White’s Flight is a stirring read. White was one of several intrepid
officers who planned and executed escapes from Turkish captivity, only
three successfully. His escape entailed months of feigning illness to
secure a transfer from the notorious Afion camp in Anatolia to a
hospital in Constantinople, from where he found a ship sailing for
Odessa. There he saw the aftermath of the Bolshevik revolution before
reaching British troops in Bulgaria.
The Brenchleys tell an extraordinary story of cruelty and indifference
on the Ottoman side (including the great Armenian genocide which began
about April 25, 1915) and the unwavering optimism and courage of young
men who took on and outwitted the regime’s goons. White’s ability to
survive on the streets of Constantinople, amid the intrigues and
uncertainties of the final months of the Ottoman Empire, was an
astounding piece of effrontery.
The Brenchleys essentially paraphrase White’s own memoir, adding
little of interest except sentimental family and political
history. Soon after his liberation, White married Vera Deakin, who ran
the Australian Red Cross’s formidable London operation, one that did
so much to save the lives of prisoners of war in the Great War. It is
a great pity the Brenchleys contented them- selves with presenting
such a superficial picture of this determined woman, especially given
the abundant sources available.
White is one of those people whose main claim to our attention is an
escapade in his youth. As a federal politician from the 1930s, he was
notable only as an adversary of Menzies. Though admired for
championing various causes, his trenchant opposition ensured that he
was more often seen as a critic than as a creator. The Brenchleys are
sloppy over details – the Australian Flying Corps is referred to
variously as the RFC, the RAF and even the RAAF – and they don’t
explain why the Turks were regarded as ”unspeakable”. But they give
a fair picture of the spirited prisoners who refused to give in to
cruel and corrupt captivity.
Peter Stanley is principal historian of the Australian War
Memorial. His book, Quinn’s Post, Anzac, Gallipoli, will be published
in April.

Armenian party says authorities “too inept” to resolve pressing problems
Arminfo
14 Jan 05
YEREVAN
The atmosphere of impunity and permissiveness in the higher echelons
of power is confirming once again that current Armenian administration
are unable not only to resolve the situation in the country but also
to stop the precipitous recession the country is in, says a statement
by the Political Council of the Democratic Party of Armenia, part of
the Justice bloc, forwarded to Arminfo.
The statement says the unprecedented delays in the payment of salaries
and pensions, the doubled fares on buses which until recently were
considered the most accessible means of public transport, the doubled
tariffs on water and gas, and the price increase on a number of
primary goods have rendered useless the minimal increase in pensions
by 1,000 drams [2 dollars] and are dealing yet another serious blow to
the destitute categories of the population.
Under such circumstances, the guarantor of social well-being of the
population, the Armenian president, is preoccupied with forgiving the
sins of those who have plundered national wealth by concealing 70 per
cent of their real earnings from the state. Instead, tax agencies
focus mainly on small and middle-sized entrepreneurs, not “the market
sharks”, because they still operate under the patronage of the
authorities.
The resulting difficult socioeconomic and moral situation and the
universal violation of the most fundamental human rights are
confirming once again that the Armenian authorities are too inept to
improve the situation in the country.
Under the document, the Democratic Party of Armenia – which remains
faithful to its programme principles based on democratic socialism and
social justice – states that only in the event of implementing the
party’s programme will it possible to carry out social reforms in the
country, form a fair public atmosphere, avoid fresh social shocks and
take the country out of the current crisis, the statement says.

More babies, marriages in Karabakh in 2004, fewer divorces – Armenian agency
Arminfo, Yerevan
14 Jan 05
The national statistics service of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic
(NKR) has reported that more babies were born in the republic in 2004
compared to 2003, more marriages were registered, and the number of
divorces has fallen, the Armenian news agency Arminfo said on 14
January.
In a report from Stepanakert ,an Arminfo correspondent said 2,095
babies were born in the republic in 2004, 37 more than in 2003. There
were 798 marriages, which was 122 more than the previous year, an
increase of 18 per cent. The report said the number of marriages in
2004 increased in all districts of the NKR compared to 2003 apart from
Shushi and Shaumyan .
There were 89 divorces, four fewer than in 2003, a decrease of 4.3 per
cent.

Armenia ready to continue talks within framework of “Prague process”
Arminfo
14 Jan 05
YEREVAN
Armenia is ready to continue talks within the framework of “the Prague
process”, the press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Gamlet
Gasparyan, said.
Gasparyan pointed out that Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
familiarized journalists at the press conference on 12 January with
the course of “the Prague process” as much as changes in this
direction allow. Gasparyan was commenting on deputy Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov’s statement yesterday.
“We do not think it right to comment on the individual details and
previous stages of the settlement. Enough has been said about this
already. Nor would we like to start an external dispute with someone
as we think this has no use,” he stressed.
[Passage omitted: Azimov’s statement]

Russia hails progress in Karabakh talks – Foreign Ministry statement
ITAR-TASS news agency
14 Jan 05
MOSCOW
Moscow notes with satisfaction that “meetings between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani sides at different levels, including at the level of
presidents and within the framework of the Prague process, have become
regular”, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported today commenting on
the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Vardan
Oskanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov, in Prague this week. The meeting was
also attended by the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group for the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement (Russia, the USA and France).
During consultations, Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives
“consider almost all the aspects of the situation related to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, including pull-out of troops,
demilitarization of the territory, international guarantees and
Nagornyy Karabakh status”.
“Both sides confirm their readiness to continue joint efforts, mindful
of the importance of easing the tension around the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem and, correspondingly, improving the situation in the whole of
the South Caucasus,” the Foreign Ministry said.
As for the issues discussed, “some progress has been registered in
rapprochement between Yerevan and Baku and their conceptual
approaches”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“Agreements between the sides to go ahead with the previously adopted
decision to send to occupied territories around Nagornyy Karabakh a
fact-finding mission of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to make
efforts to organize a new meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents in Warsaw in the summer” are of the same context.
“Moscow, as previously, expresses its readiness together with other
members of the OSCE Minsk Group to promote understanding between
Armenia and Azerbaijan with the aim of resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict through talks and peacefully,” the Russian Foreign Ministry
stressed.
[Azeri ANS TV carried the Russian Foreign Ministry statement as the
first item in its main 1700 gmt bulletin on 14 January, without adding
any comment of its own or giving any further details.]

Japanese minister, Azeri Speaker discuss Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
14 Jan 05
[Presenter] The Nagornyy Karabakh problem has been the subject of
official talks by Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa. The
Japanese diplomat, who is currently visiting Baku, said that the
position of the Tokyo government on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
remained unchanged – this problem should be resolved in line with the
principles of international law.
[Correspondent over video of meeting] The first visit to Azerbaijan of
Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa started with a visit to
[former Azerbaijani President] Heydar Aliyev’s grave at the Avenue of
Honour. The Japanese deputy foreign minister then held meetings at the
Foreign Ministry. After the meetings, the guest said that the goal of
his visit to Azerbaijan was to expand relations between the two
countries, particularly to boost economic cooperation.
The guest touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem at a meeting with
the chairman of the Milli Maclis [parliament], Murtuz Alasgarov. The
deputy minister said that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict was a major
problem in the South Caucasus as a whole and that the Japanese
government hoped that the conflict would be resolved through
talks. Quote – Japan could render assistance to the conflict
settlement by providing humanitarian aid to displaced persons.
Milli Maclis Chairman Murtuz Alasgarov said once again that he was
confident that Japan would always back Baku’s position on the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue and tell the world about Azerbaijan’s just cause.

COMMISSION UNSATISFIED WITH THE GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION SCENARIO
Azg/arm
15 Jan 05
The State Commission on Arranging the 90th Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide specified the future activities at its last
sitting. Professor Lavrenti Barseghian, head of the secretariat of the
Commission, told daily Azg that “the secretariat was ordered to
re-elaborate the programs of the arrangements and to plan arrangements
for Nagorno Karabakh as well”. It was envisaged to present the final
list of those participating at the international workshopon genocide
and human rights launching in Yerevan. The reviewed program of
arrangements envisaged for April 23 in all the regions of Armenia is
to be presented to the government.
The Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs was ordered to change the
scenario of “Love and Friendship Against the Sword”, the commemoration
concert on April 23. The Ministry also has to make a list of the films
on Armenian Genocide filed at the film library of the Armenian Public
TV and specify the final list of literature to be published in the
current year on state order. The Commission offered its help to the
Holy See of Etchmiadzin in arranging the commemoration liturgy of
April the 24th (there was a suggestion to serve a liturgy at the
Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan to assemble more
participants).
Prof. Barseghian and other members of the Commission disapproved of
Culture and Youth Affair Ministry’s initiative to send troupes to
foreign countries with a program. “It’s not clever to spend money from
the state budget for this purpose especially in case when their
repertoire has nothing to do with the Genocide. I suggested the
Culture Ministry to stage our old performances that are forgotten
today”, Barseghian said reminding such performance about the Genocide
as Edgar Hovhannisian’s “Antuni” ballet that was not staged for 20
years. The Commission is discussing all the offers, and
Prof. Barseghian will inform of further results.
By Marietta Makarian

TROUBLE BREWING FOR ARMENIA
Azg/arm
15 Jan 05
There is real cause for concern when the major news media in the West
begin to focus on Armenia and dwell on the woes that the country is
experiencing at this time. The articles published in the December 9,
2004 and December 26, 2004 issues of The New York Times and signed by
Susan Sachs don’t seem to be coincidental. At the risk of being blamed
for conspiratorial mentality, we will venture to classify this sudden
surge of attention as one of the plots being hatched in that part of
the world.
Ms. Sachs’ very titles indicate what she is up to – “For young
Armenians, a promised land without promise”, “Armenia’s isolation
grows only deeper”. Her conclusion cannot be construed as a Freudian
slip, as she says, “The prospects appear grim without outside
intervention”. “Outside intervention” is the buzzwords about the
impending dangers that the country should anticipate. The fact that
Armenia’s economic liberalization has put the country on the higher
gear of growth has not impressed the writer enough so that she has
taken the pains to interview some destitute and disgruntled youth to
substantiate her grim predictions about Armenia. We have no reason to
doubt the veracity of the complaints. But ignoring the growth of
Armenia’s domestic product (13% in 2002 and 15% in 2004), which placed
the country among the fastest growing economies of former Soviet
Republics, to draw a desperate picture certainly has a political
motivation behind. On the other hand, Azerbaijan, with all its oil
resources, lives in abject misery under a medieval despotic rule, yet
it fails to attract the attention of The New York Times; nor has
neighboring Georgia, which, despite its “rose revolution”, has been
torn in three directions and has plunged into an energy crisis.
Those New York Times articles only echo and complement another article
signed recently by David Phillips in The Wall Street Journal
pontificating that Armenia can live in peace and prosperity ever after
at the tender mercies of neighboring Turkey by removing the Russian
military bases from its territory.
These two influential publications, which have shown sudden interest
in Armenia’s plight failed to report the demonstration of ten thousand
European Armenians, who recently converged to Brussels to protest
Turkey’s accessiontalks with the European Union. That huge
demonstration was not deemed newsworthy.
To complete the mosaic of the political machinations we should also
refer to another initiative, which took place recently, when the
former President Levon Ter-Petrossian was pulled out of his
self-imposed isolation to rub shoulders with incumbent and former US
Presidents at the inauguration of President Clinton’s library. That
was also a not so subtle message to the rulers in Yerevan.
It is very obvious that post-Cold War new world order is being set on
two different levels; by force or by subversion. Yugoslavia was
dismembered under false pretense and Iraq was occupied to serve
Israel’s political needs â=80` at the cost of American money and
blood. On the other hand, colorful “revolutions” began burgeoning in
different parts of the world: Thus the “rose revolution” propelled an
inexperienced young lawyer to the presidency of Georgia (after
“peacefully” smashing the parliament gates). The “orange revolution”
brought Yushenko to power in Ukraine by cutting Russia to size. The
Cold war is continuing under a different guise. Yet still the name of
the game is to contain Russia into its ever-shrinking territory.
Unfortunately, Armenia is caught in this geo-strategic chess game, and
hopefully any revolution that is being concocted in the dark will not
turn out to be a “red revolution”.
Recently the Kocharian administration was cornered to test the
validity of its “complementarist” foreign policy by forcing it to send
a symbolic number of troops to Iraq to join the occupation forces,
which have a fig leaf called “the coalition”.
Armenia’s government was caught between a rock and a hard place. Since
Azerbaijan was being lavishly rewarded for its participation in, and
position on the Iraq war, Armenia was challenged to match Baku’s
commitments to the West. Therefore, the government in Armenia
grudgingly agreed to participate in the occupation of Iraq, with the
full knowledge that it was jeopardizing the lives of Armenians living,
not only in Iraq, but also in the entire Muslim world. Even before the
Armenian contingent set foot in Iraq, the warning shots were already
heard when the Armenian churches were bombed. We need to brace for
further trouble in the Arab world, where Armenians were received with
open arms in the aftermath of the Genocide.
All those developments seem to be components of a similar design to
drive Armenia to further concessions vis-Ã -vis Turkey and Azerbaijan
or drive the country to extinction. This, by no means, must be
construed as extreme pessimism, since The New York Times article has
made a specific reference in that direction. Indeed, Ms. Sachs has
found a young male activist in the town ofGumry who has conveniently
stated, “If nothing changes, Armenia will be left as an
island…everyone will forget Armenia”.
The New York Times editor has gleefully quoted the young man’s
statement, which is very much in tune with the thrust of her articles.
All these articles and other developments seem to be the tip of the
iceberg. Much seems to be in store yet.
Hopefully, the future is not that grim. We cannot allow it to be grim.
By Charlotte Vande, 1/11/05

The struggle to keep the faith in Bethlehem
The Times/UK
January 15, 2005
by Michael Binyon
After 2,000 years Christianity is in danger of extinction in the land
of its birth

FOR the first time in several years, a few rays of hope have begun to
shine over Bethlehem. The recent elections for a Palestinian president
passed off relatively peacefully and fairly, despite complaints about
Israeli barricades and bureaucracy. Almost twice as many visitors as
last year thronged Manger Square to celebrate midnight Mass at
Christmas, and there were also more Orthodox Christians who came to
celebrate at their Christmas on January 7. Could this mean that the
terrible events of recent years – the Israeli siege of the Church of
the Nativity, the curfews, blockades and violence – may now be
followed by desperately needed calm and stability?
Christians in Bethlehem ardently hope so. For, despite the brief
upsurge in pilgrims and tourism, there is a bleak midwinter.
Unemployment, economic collapse and emigration have devastated their
community. Many fear that Christianity, after 2,000 years, may soon be
extinguished in the land of its birth.
For hundreds of years and throughout Ottoman rule, Christians formed a
majority in Bethlehem. In the last century they were 90 per cent of
the population. But since the Israeli occupation, and especially
after the start of the first Palestinian intifada, they have been
leaving.
Since the Pope’s visit in March 2000 (six months before the second
intifada and when there was still hope of a political solution with
Israel), an estimated 3,000 people have moved abroad. They have left
behind a communitynow down to 21,500, barely a third of the
Palestinian population.
Christians with education, savings or ambition are leaving for
America, South America, Canada, Australia – anywhere where they can
escape the occupation and economic stagnation. Those who remain are
increasingly old, poor and despairing. They cannot even reach the
churches of nearby Jerusalem without difficulty. The new separation
fence hems in the little town, and Israeli checkpoints make what was
once a short and easy journey over the stony hills a frustrating
experience.
In Jerusalem itself, the Christians are equally demoralised. Their
numbers, too, are falling fast. At the time of the British mandate,
Christians formed about 10 per cent of the Palestinian population. Now
they are probably no more than 2 per cent.
It is not simply that many are leaving. The Christian birthrate is
about half that of Muslims. And Christians find themselves caught
between two communities. They have suffered as much as their Muslim
neighbours from therecent violence. But many say the Muslims believe
them to be less active in the struggle against occupation, and they
are seen as more ready to co-operate with the Israelis – a perception
that makes for bad blood between the two communities.
These mutual suspicions were intensified by the Christian-Muslim
clashes that took place in Nazareth in 1999 over the proposal to build
a mosque, authorised by Israel, next to the Basilica of the
Annunciation.
In Jerusalem, the Christians are suffering, as in Bethlehem, from the
lack of pilgrims and tourists. But in recent years they have come
increasingly into conflict with the Israelis over the management and
status of their churches. Partly this is because of the churches’
extensive land holdings, partly because Israeli settlers are
determined to expand their presence in the Old City, and partly
because Christian clergy now identify themselves more than before with
the Palestinian cause and have become suspect in official Israeli
eyes.
The leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church, which has the largest
Palestinian membership, has run into conflict with Israel over its
appointments. The present Patriarch, Irenous I, is 140th in a direct
line of succession. His appointment was confirmed only in the autumn
after a two-year delay. Israelsaw him as too close to Yassir Arafat,
and delayed recognition of his appointment through a court case
accusing him of anti-Semitism, finally dismissed by the Israeli
Supreme Court. Another priest of Palestinian origin, Father
AtallahHanna, was appointed church spokesman in Jerusalem in 2001 and
became outspoken in denouncing the occupation. He was frequently
stopped and questioned, placed under house arrest and finally
disinvested by the Patriarch under Israeli pressure.
Other denominations have had other disputes, many concerning land
sales. The St John’s Hospice building in the Old City was occupied by
a group of Jewish settlers, causing general concern among Christians
at the lack of an official response.
One of the main concerns is the Christian claim that Israeli
authorities are indifferent to the observance of the age-old status
quo – the complex balance between the various factions which has for
centuries maintained a precarious peace between the Greek Orthodox,
the Armenians, the Latins, Copts, Ethiopians and others who claim
rights in the custody of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
In the negotiations leading to the establishment of diplomatic
relations with the Vatican, Israel signed a Fundamental Agreement in
1993, giving the Vatican also an official say in church affairs in
Jerusalem. This has yet to be ratified by the Knesset.
Samuel Jacob Kuruvilla, a specialist in Middle East politics at Exeter
University, details many of the clashes in the current issue of the
Palestinian journal al-Aqsa. He argues that recent Israeli proposals,
such as opening anew entrance to the Holy Sepulchre and ending the
800-year tradition that entrusts its keys to two prominent Muslim
families, have elicited intense suspicion from Jerusalem’s Christians
who fear that they will upset the status quo.
`The churches were suspicious whether the Israelis had any plans
ofextending a foothold into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre much as
they had done on the Temple Mount,’ Kuruvilla said. They feared that
the Israelis were planning ` to do what no rulers of Jerusalem had
ever succeeded in carrying out, namely to interfere with the sole
right of the churches themselves to manage affairs within the
precincts of the church’.
Church frustration is directed not only against the ruling
authorities, however. Kuruvilla said that many Christians in Jerusalem
were angry that the European powers had failed to recognise the
sensitivities and traditions of historic churches in the land in which
they were born.

Japan hopes for speedy Karabakh solution, visiting minister tells Azeri radio
ANS Radio, Baku
14 Jan 05
The Tokyo government hopes that the Nagornyy Karabakh problem will be
settled soon, visiting Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa
has told ANS.
We hope that the conflict will be solved through talks. The Japanese
government might render humanitarian aid to the refugees, end of
quote.
The visit by the Japanese deputy foreign minister is aimed at
expanding ties between the two countries, especially developing
cooperation in the economic sphere.
Mr Aisawa spoke highly of the fact that the former Japanese ambassador
to Azerbaijan, Toshiyuki Fujiwara, was chosen Man of the Year.
This is very nice. Japan and Azerbaijan have done a lot to deepen
mutual respect and trust in a few years. At the same time, I am proud
of the fact that the honorary title was conferred on our ambassador
and his work was appreciated, end of quote.